Kirtipur is hosting a commercial fair from the first week of October to promote local products and culture.

In a first of its kind in the city, Audyogik Shanti Nepal Sanstha in association with Naya Bazar Club is organising the First Kirtipur Industrial, Cultural, Tourism and Trade Fair 2015 at Naya Bazar from October 2 to 17.

According to organisers, the fair will host 200 stalls of local agricultural and home-made products, handicrafts, food, clothing, utensils, shoes and electronic gadgets along with daily cultural and entertainment programmes.

“We will keep stalls that exhibit the traditional identity of Kirtipur,” ASNS chairman Sandeep Mahat told a press conference on Tuesday. “As Dashain is getting closer, the fair will also provide Kirtipur folks entertainment and the opportunity to shop.” Mahat assured safety of visitors at the fair with professional guards, police and CCTV cameras.

Mentioning about similar small-scale programmes in the past at Kirtipur, local social worker Raj Kumar Nakarmi claimed that this is going to be the largest commercial fair in the city. “As the city has remained in the shadows for long, Kirtipur was very much in need of such fair,” he said. “As we need prosperity, business opportunities and tourism promotion, the fair will help in long-term development of the city.”

Organisers have targeted to bring 500,000 visitors to the entry-free fair. They claim that they will offer 25 to 50 percent discount on all products. Chairman of Naya Bazar Club Ishwormani Bajracharya said their main target was to provide visitors with high-quality products at cheap prices.

Apart from the products on sale, the fair will host amusement rides, singing and dancing competition among local performers, children park, concerts and comedians, organisers said.