The 20th edition of the Nepali Fair began in Paris with vibrant performances showcasing traditional dances, cultural costumes, and Nepali cuisine, drawing hundreds of Nepalis and French attendees.
Organised by the Nepal Sanskritik Griha to promote Nepal, the fair is being held in Bois de Vincennes, home to a large Buddha statue. The two-day event started on Saturday.
The highlight of the fair was the chariot of Kumari—the living goddess of Kathmandu Valley—and the performance of the Lakhe dance, which captivated the audience.
Nepali dishes such as momo, sel roti, dal bhat, chana chatpate, pakoda, laddu, pani puri, and pickles offered visitors a taste of Nepal, with many French attendees saying the food reminded them of their travels to Nepal.
Experts familiar with Nepal, including both French and Nepali speakers, gave presentations on topics such as Tamang culture, the Rolwaling region, Nepal's seismic risks, and Newar culture and communities.
Handicrafts such as doko, kharpan, dalo, dhiki, and Nepal-made food items were on display and for sale. “As soon as I entered, I felt like I had stepped into a village in Nepal,” said French journalist Matthieu Alexandre, who has visited Nepal seven times.
The fair featured dances to Tamang selo, jhyau-re, and other folk songs. On Saturday evening, the Sukarma musical group performed a special concert.
Inaugurating the fair, Nepal’s Ambassador to France Sudhir Bhattarai said Nepal is home to 142 ethnic communities and 124 languages, making it one of the most attractive destinations for global travellers. He highlighted Nepal’s unmatched hospitality and cultural, geographic, and social diversity.
Nanda Kumar Thebe, president of the Nepal Sanskritik Griha, said the fair was also organised to promote Nepal and its heritage and to pass on cultural knowledge to the younger generation of Nepali children born and raised in France.
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