CHITWAN: The second Ichchhakamana Orange Festival and Food Festival is beginning from today.

The festival is being organized jointly by the Chitwan Industry Association Ichchhakamana Committee and the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association Ichchhakamana Unit in Muglin Bazaar.

Ramhari Kandel, President of the Chitwan Industry Association Ichchhakamana Committee, stated that the festival is organized to attract both domestic and international tourists.

He added that there will be more than 50 stalls in the exhibition. As many as 100 farmers producing oranges in Ichchhakamana will directly benefit from the festival.

According to the organizers, the festival will contribute to the preservation and promotion of local arts, culture and traditions.

The festival will include various programmes, such as interactions between expert farmers and people’s representatives, and orange-eating competitions. Chairperson Kandel said that the festival in Muglin Bazaar is expected to help promote local products.

Chair of Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality, Danbahadur Gurung said that farmers in the area are annually making transaction of Rs 9 million to 10 million from orange production.