Pokhara Ward Office Promotes Local Craftsmanship by Gifting Student-Made Bamboo Products

Kaski. The tradition of gifting imported items to guests at formal ceremonies has become commonplace. However, a recent event in Pokhara Metropolitan City-17 presented this tradition in a different light.

At the inauguration ceremony of the newly constructed ward office building, guests were presented with bamboo items crafted by local students. These items were created by students from grades 5 to 8 at Janaki Secondary School, Pokhara-17, Mahatgauda.

Ward Chairperson Radhika Shahi Yogi presented the bamboo pen holders and baskets made by the students to Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, Deputy Mayor Manju Devi Gurung, and Chief Administrative Officer Mukti Raj Aryal. These items served not just as gifts, but as symbols of the students' skills, hard work, and creativity.

Most participants at the event remarked that these items, made from local resources and labor, left a deeper impression than traditional gifts. They collectively noted that items made by children from their own community provided a sense of intimacy and originality compared to mass-produced market goods.

School Management Committee Chairman Hari Prasad Bastola stated that the training was conducted with a grant of 150,000 rupees under the 'Learn and Earn, Earn and Learn' program, supported by the Education Development Directorate of the Gandaki Province Ministry of Social Development.

He added that the training, conducted during school holidays, helped connect students to vocational education while fostering self-reliance and creativity. Principal Arjun Kandel noted that the proceeds from the sale of the bamboo products contribute to the income of both the students and the school.

Instructor Kamal Acharya believes that such practices, which prioritize local resources, skills, and creativity, signal a reduction in dependence on imported goods while providing an opportunity to showcase student talent. Twenty-five students have been participating in the training. He stated that this initiative signals a new direction for gift-giving traditions at formal events, conveying the message of 'Local Production, Local Respect'.