Kathmandu Metropolis to Host Swayambhu Festival Starting Baisakh 12

Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is set to organize the Swayambhu Festival starting from Baisakh 12. An agreement was reached during a discussion held here today, organized by KMC Ward No. 15, to hold the festival from Baisakh 12 to 19.

Ward Chairman of Ward 15, Ishwarman Dangol, stated that the festival is being organized with the objective of promoting the ward's ancient religious, cultural, archaeological, and social heritage, including monasteries, stupas, and gompas, as well as tangible and intangible heritage.

According to him, this year the festival will be organized in eight locations: Bhuinkhel, Earthquake Park Chhauni, Kimdol, Bijyeshwori, Dalla, Dalla Awas Ganesh Sthan, Chamati Dabu, and Annapurna area. "The festival is expected to promote ancient yet overlooked monuments as tourist destinations, support the income generation of the ward residents through the sale of local products, and help in identifying local talents," said Ward Chairman Dangol.

Coordination will be established between the Metropolitan Police Circle Swayambhu and the Metropolitan Police Force to ensure the festival is harmonious and secure. Bishnu Prasad Joshi, Chief of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Force, stated that security management will be further tightened based on the experiences of past festivals.

Mohanmani Adhikari, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Circle Swayambhu, mentioned that peace and security will be effective with the equal participation of local residents, and coordination will be maintained with the Metropolitan Police Force for this purpose.

Important monuments in this area include the Swayambhu Stupa, the folklore connected to the establishment of the Mahachaitya involving Manjushree, and Shantipur based on the tantric practices of Jamun Gumaju. Potential cultural tourism sites include the Shobha Bhagawati Temple, the tantra-based Bijyeshwori Temple, and the Gita Mandir among the Shakti Peethas. The Natural Science Museum is a place worth visiting for both domestic and foreign tourists.

The main festivals celebrated in the ward include the Gunla Mela, Buddha Jayanti, the Temal Jatra which starts from Boudha and ends at Swayambhu, Sakadawa celebrated by people from the Himalayan region, and the Ropai Mela held in Shrawan. This ward, which has a majority Newar community, also has mixed settlements including Arya, Tamang, Gurung, and Magar.