Vegetarian minister inaugurates VegFest, calls for promoting veg lifestyle

Kathmandu - A two-day Asia Pacific Vegetarian Congress and Vegetarian Festival (APVC and VegFest) kicked off Saturday in the federal capital. 
Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Tham Maya Thapa inaugurated the festival at Nepal Police Club. 
On the occasion, she insisted on the need of adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, which according to her, helped live a peaceful life by promoting the culture of non-violence. The adoption of a veggie life would help to remove the psychology of violence from the human society. 
"Animal violence is also the cause of human violence," argued the Minister who has been practicing the vegetarian lifestyle since the past 20 years. It had been delayed to adopt and promote a vegetarian culture. 
In the event jointly organised by Nepal Vegetarian Association and International Vegetarian Union (IVU), the Minster also gave her words for future support to the NVA efforts. 
Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Population and Environment, Lalbabu Pandit, said he had his solidarity to the vegetarian campaign. 
Vegan climber Kuntal Joisher from India who had already successfully scaled the world highest peak, Mt Everest, said he had never any problem for being a vegan (vegans are those who follow vegetarian diet that excludes eggs, milk products and animal-derived ingredients as well). Meat and milks products are not compulsory for achieving a sound health and for strength. 
Giving the reference of Patrick Baboumian,33, of Germany who holds the title of world's strongest man, Joisher said such powerful man survives just on vegetables, fruits and food grains. 
US businessman and Vegan campaigner Philip Nicozisis, presenting a working paper on the occasion, viewed that a vegan lifestyle was the sole alternative to living a healthy life with compassion. "Vegan foods are helpful to overcome cancer like disease," he claimed, stating that why Hippocrates, who is considered as father of medicine, believed that food as medicines. Time had come to change the world, he added. 
The fest has showcased various stalls about vegetarian and vegan foods. Nutritionists and veg campaigners from different countries are also taking part in the event organised first time in Nepal.