KATHMANDU, Nov 9: Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri inaugurated the third edition of India-Nepal Folk Craft Festival at Bhrikutimandap, Padarsani Marg on Tuesday. 

The main objective of the five-day festival is to promote bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries through crafts and enhance relationship between artisans of the two countries through cultural exchange programs. 

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassadar Puri said such festivals would help in strengthening the long-held friendly relationship between India and Nepal. Arts and crafts representing both the countries have been put on display at the festival. A Bharat Natyam and Garba dance performance along with two welcome songs in Nepali as well as Hindi languages were showcased during the opening ceremony. 

The festival is organized by South Asia Foundation (SAF) where more than 50 artisans/crafts persons from India and 30 from Nepal are showcasing local crafts and artifacts. 

Sandeep Gurung, team member of Sumukhi Handicraft, said, “We aim to preserve medieval Nepali designing styles through our product which is based on everyday life-such as all-inclusive laptop cases, diaries, jackets, pen holders, memo pads, leather bags and so on.” 

“All my paintings are Godana, and they are similar to Mithila paintings,” said Indian National Award winner in 2014 Uttam Prasad Parswan, the Indian artist from Bihar. “I have painted on hand made paper that consists of 60 percent cloth and 40 percent paper,” he added.  His paintings cost between INR 200 to INR 10,000.

The festival is being sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and is being organized by South Asia Foundation in association with the Council of Handicrafts Development Corporation (COHANDs) of the Government of India and SABAH Nepal.  BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation and Embassy of India, Kathmandu is supporting the event.

The five-day exhibition will conclude on November 11.