Kathmandu, November 2
Fifty-five tourists from 14 countries participated in a collective Bhaitika
organised at Lakeside, Pokhara, on Tuesday.
According to Western Regional Hotel Association, which organised the event with help from Nepal Tourism Board, tourists from the United States, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Holland, Germany, France, Japan, Spain, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Republic of Korea, England and Brazil took part in the event.
Children from Rainbow Children’s Home had put Tika on the foreheads of the tourists, putting garlands around their necks and gifting Dhaka Topi to male tourists and shawls to female tourists and delicacies and fruits, the association said.
After receiving Tika, the tourists gave Dakshina to the children. On the occasion, the children also played Deusi-Bhailo and the tourists danced.
The association said tourists from several countries have attended their Bhaitika more than once. This year, in the 10th edition of collective Bhaitika, tourists from seven countries, including Holland and Australia, came to receive Tika, it said.
The tourists had to pay $15 each for participating in the festival. The participants said they felt happy, describing Nepal’s cultural festival Tihar as great. The association expressed hope that events like this will help promote tourism.
