Inspiration of Laligurans Dhampus Festival for Rupakot Festival

Rajesh Rajchal and Prabhat Sapkota, CBEC, May 14, 2006

Dhampus is a typical example of village tourism development in Nepal. To promote the village tourism in Dhampus, a non governmental organization 'Laligurans Youth Club' has organized a festival called Laligurans Dhampus Festival. Main attractions of the area are the red blooming rhododendron forest, cool and fresh environment, spectacular sceneries of the Pokhara valley, eye catching panoramic view of Himalayan range, deep gorge and heart touching cultures. The main programs organized during the festival were Jhanki (cultural dance), Dohori (song sung as a competition between male and female groups), volley ball competition, Tog of War, Thelo Falne (a game of throwing stone to a distance) and marathon race. Laligurans Youth club has been organizing this festival since 1997. With cooperation of village development committee (VDC), the local people were made aware of village tourism and other activities like sanitation, cultural dances, salutation and entertain through Dohari and different dances for the home stay tourists. They have collected about 3,72,000.00 for this festival with the support of local people, emigrated people, VDC and other organizations. Approximately 4,000 tourists visited the area including approximately 500 home stay tourists in the three days' festival.
With compare to Dhampus, Rupakot area is also an equally potential area for organizing such festival. This article aims to explore the lesson learnt from Dhampus festival and to encourage such festival to be organized in Rupakot. Major attractions of Rupakot and recommended actions to be carried out have also been outlined.

Major Attractions
Sceneries

The main attraction of the area is the scenic beauty. All the seven lakes of Lekhnath Municipality can be viewed from Kot Mandir (Bhairab Mandir) of Rupakot at a glance along with beautiful Himalaya range of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre and Dhaulagiri. These areas are also viewpoints for the spectacular views of sunrise and sunset. Deep gorge, folding of hills and attractive landscapes can also be viewed.

Festivals and Cultural Activities

Dashain, Tihar, Teej, Chaitya Dashain are the common festivals as in other parts of Nepal. Besides, the area has the unique cultures such as playing Balan, Krishna Charitra, the old plays based on religious epics in the special occasion. This area is famous for Naumati Baza as well. Hymn, campfire, puja (worshiping) and other local dances are also common in the area. Due to Gurung community, traditional and cultural dances – Chudka Nach (Damphu), Soriti Nach, Kusun (Sati Ghanto), Baramase Ghanto, Chattung Nach (Dhole Nach) and Dohari are popular. The local people also organize cultural programs to welcome and entertain the guests.

Biological Resources

The areas are highly rich in biological resources. The majority of the species includes chilaune (Schima wallichii) and katus (Castanopsis indica) and due to ecotone of tropical and sub-tropical zone, the area covers the species from Sal (Shorea robusta) to Gurans (Rhododendron arboreum). The areas are also popular for orchid, fish, Navo (wild rice) and honey.

Special Food Items

Food items like dhindo, boiled arum, potato chips, gundruk and cell roti will reflect the typical example of rural life and will entertain the tourists.

Route/Accessibility

These areas are facilitated by an unpaved road. Bus is available from Kholako Chheu to reach Rupakot. One can also enjoy trekking from Kholako Chheu. Rupakot can be traveled from Kalika by bus as well.

Accommodation

In Rupakot, some people have constructed a special room for guests and there are some good lodges like Chisapani Cottage in Chisapani. About 150 people can halt in the area in a day.

Unity

The Gurung community has good unity, cooperation and 'we feeling'.

Fertility of Land

The land fertility of the locality is high so the local people get high agricultural products for their basic needs.

Electricity

There is good facility of electricity in Rupakot. In the upper part of Chisapani area, eight households have established solar light.

Recommended actions for preparing Rupakot festival

1. A village tourism management committee should be established.

2. Each and every household should be made aware of village tourism and prepare for managing tourists. The committee should seek possible options (awareness) to mobilize each and every individuals, youth, women, poor, Dalit and children.

3. Tourist carrying capacity has to be evaluated.

4. All the stakeholders have to be listed and analyzed.

5. Expected expenditure in the festival has to be estimated.

6. Water supply is necessary to be managed in Rupakot for huge population.

7. Advertisement is necessary both for attracting the donors (sponsorships) and tourists through articles, pamphlets, newspapers, FM and TV.

8. Sponsors should be seek like coke, beer, noodles, biscuits, etc.

9. Sanitation programs are necessary to be organized to keep the area clean and healthy.
10. Participatory interactions are necessary to involve women, Dalit and poor. These may also help in advertising process.

11. List of programs to be carried out have to be prepared.

12. Sub-committees should be established and these should be monitored. These committees will help to organize different activities like for welcome, keeping record of visitors, foods, games, competitions, dances, Dohori, sanitation, information centers, parking sites, keeping records, announcement, calling guests, other programs which involve tourists, etc.

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