Chitwan (RSS) : In a bid to promote tourism, the 13th Sauraha Food Festival has kicked off here today. Former finance minister Surendra Pande inaugurated the festival. Inaugurating the festival, the former minister shared the information that works were begun to construct a city hall for the development of Sauraha.

The festival is organized by Restaurant and Bar Association Sauraha on the occasion of the Valentine Day. On the occasion, provincial lawmaker Krishna Prasad Khanal, Ratnanagar municipality mayor Krishna Kumar Dallakoti, Chairman of the district coordination committee, and Narayan Wan among others viewed that joint initiatives of the government and entrepreneurs could materialize the development plans at Sauraha, a touristy place in Chitwan.

The festival organized at local Sisuwal playground features 50 sorts of foods and five display stalls, said festival coordinator, Dhruba Giri. The event to continue till Friday also offers the special cuisines of Tharu community as chichar and ghongi. Even a volleyball competition, love letter writing, and best cuisine completion would be held as part of the festival. The proceeds generated from the festival would be used to institute a fund to help the poor children in schooling.