TANAHUN: The 6th Indigenous Nationalities Tanahun Cultural Festival is starting here today.

The festival is being organized by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities District Coordination Council, Tanahun and will run until January 19.

President of the Federation, Sanam Tamang, informed that the festival is being organized to preserve language, culture and promote tourism. The festival will help in preserving the culture of the ethnic groups of Tanahun as well as promoting religious and tourist sites here.

The Federation started the Indigenous Nationalities Festival in Tanahun, with 65 percent of the population being indigenous. The first Indigenous Nationalities Festival was organized in 2065 BS.

Along with a model house, the cultural tableau, indigenous dance, ethnic dress exhibition, local dishes, handicraft stalls, musical programs and various awareness-raising programs will be organized in the cultural festival.

According to the organizers, the festival aims to raise Rs. 1.5 million, which will be used to build a museum.

Model houses of Magar, Darai and Kumal communities have been constructed as the main attraction of the festival to be held in Byas Municipality-3.