NATIONAL8 (Spotlight Weekly]

KATHMANDU UTSAV
A Business Venture

Just before Dsahian festival, a trade fair offers consumers to see wide varieties of consumer items along with a big fanfare

By Aruna Singh Pradhan

Food stalls with delicious foods flooded the grounds of Tundikhel as a crowd of excited young lads and lasses gathered around to look at 3-Dimensional posters. Outside the stalls laughter of children as they rode on the "roti-ping" blended with the sounds of cheerful people visiting with each other. At sunset, the melodious music from stage invited the audience to the special event of the day, a fashion show.

A dancer from Orissa, India : Perfect rhythm

This grand mela was held in the heart of the valley from Sept 11th-Sept 19th to celebrate the joyous festival Dashain. This fun filled event has been held every year since 1994. It is organized before Dashain to remind Kathmanduties that the great festival is on its way.

Kathmandu Utsav was held in the open field of Tundikhel for the first time this year. The last 5 years it was held in Bhrikuti Mandap. The large ground of Tundikhel accommodated over 100 stalls. There were more than 30 stalls exhibiting and selling consumer products that ranged from clothes, ornaments and carpets to music, kulfi and beer.

The food festival also offered various kinds of food to suite the palate of the people. Among others were food stalls for pani puri, Korean pancakes, and newari food.

Artists like Ram Krishna Dhakal, Yam Baral, Lochan Bhattarai and Rajesh Payal Rai entertained the crowd with their music. There were also different music and fashion competitions that were held every evening and twenty-five models walked on the ramp, showing off the latest creations of 4 popular fashion designers. The clothing wear included traditionally inspired outfits, lehnga choli, evening dresses and casual wears.

The mela offered various forms of entertainment for different age groups. To attract the attention of the children there were "The King Corner" Magic Show, Video game Arcade and various rides. For the adults there were shopping stalls, food festival, plant exhibition, music and fashion shows.

Attracting attention of numerous Nepalese, Kathmandu Utsav 2000 proved to be a huge success. Many finished their Dashain shopping under the stall roofs while many more just had a good time in the joyous environment.

"We have received very encouraging response from the consumers," said Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnicar.

MIRNOV LIME

New Vodka In Town

Highland Distillery, one of the leading liquor manufactures of Nepal, has given various blends for the liquors in the country including rum, whisky, or Vodka. This time they have introduced lime flavored Mirnov Vodka in the market. The product has been launched in Kathmandu Valley from early this month. According to the company, the Vodka stands unique in its taste and quality, unmatched by any existing brands in Nepalese market.

Moreover, its modish ocean-blue color is and added attractions besides the smooth, tart-tasting lemony smell taste. A research was carried out here in the kingdom after looking at the increasing popularity of similar trends in liquors in European and American market.

Blended after an intensive research for a couple of years and corroborated by Master Blender, the liquor is sure to find its niche amidst Nepali consumers including expatriates and foreigners. Although the product is targeted at the masses, it is more liked to be preferred by the elite and beer drinkers. One of the slogans of the Vodka-lime is: "Try it to believe it, it will never let you down." The price of the product is ranged at Rs. 75 for 180 ml bottle and Rs. 375 for 1000 ml bottle. The bottle of 750 ml costs Rs. 750 and Rs. 148 for 375 ml.