Sydney, Australia – The Nepal Festival, organized by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Australia, is set to be celebrated across Australia this year. The main event of the Nepal Festival will be held in Sydney’s Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour on Saturday, November 23. Beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing until 10 p.m., the festival will showcase Nepali culture, tourism, and traditions.
Supported by Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, and the Nepal Tourism Board, the event aims to significantly promote Nepalese tourism. The festival will feature stalls from Nepali businesses in Australia, showcasing traditional foods and handicrafts, which are expected to be major attractions.
Sydney’s streets, including Liverpool Street, Bathurst Street, and the Darling Harbour area, will be decorated with Nepali flags, adding excitement and visibility to the festival. The Nepal House will serve as a major attraction, highlighting the geographical diversity of Nepal (the Terai, hills, and mountains), along with its tourist spots, religious sites, traditional clothing, art, literature, language, and history.
At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, a special parade and peace march will take place with traditional music, giving a glimpse into Nepal’s art and culture. The festival will feature special performances by The X Band, Aastha Raut, and Hemanta Sharma, bringing Nepal’s folk, pop, and rock music to life. Local artists and cultural dances will also be performed, representing various facets of Nepali heritage.
The festival will aim to preserve Nepali art, culture, and traditions, providing a platform for the second generation of Nepalis abroad to embrace and promote their identity. In this context, representatives from the Australian government and the Nepalese Embassy will deliver special speeches to further strengthen the 70-year-old diplomatic relationship between Nepal and Australia.
According to Binod Kunwar, the coordinator of NRNA Australia’s NSW State Committee, the festival is a celebration for all Nepalis living abroad, offering an opportunity to share joys and sorrows, celebrate culture, and come together in one place. NSW Premier Chris Minns will be the chief guest, and over 30,000 Nepalis are expected to attend, as stated by NRNA Australia President Anil Pokharel.
The festival is estimated to cost approximately AUD 250,000.
