Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee

1. Introduction :
Bhaktapur - a mystic and medieval town, even known as "Cultural Capital of Nepal" is one of the cultural tourist destination of Nepal. It has still successfully preserved its ancient old monuments, arts, architecture, culture custom, feast and festival with the same charms that gives the glimpses of 17th century. In order to promote Bhaktapur through its rich culture, custom and its historical monuments Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee has been organizing "Bhaktapur Night" since 2001 A.D. with a theme "A cultural event to explore and experience Bhaktapur". This is the "3rd Bhaktapur Night" that we have been conducting with the promotional support of Nepal Tourism Board and co-operation of Bhaktapur Municipality, District Development Committee, Bhaktapur.

Bhaktapur Night" - the perfect time and place to encounter actual night life of Bhaktapur and its rich culture customs, historical monuments sites and traditional dances. The night life of Bhaktapur is heavenly for tourists. While walking through narrow brick paved allies and open squares under the illumination of twinkling stars and flinkering of oil lamps on the day of the special occasion of Tihar night has marvellous charm in Bhaktapur. Watching live old customs and cultures, traditional craftmen at work would obviously make people loose track of time. Aiming to provide this opportunity to experience this all and more, Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee has organized Deepawali special "3rd Bhaktapur Night" programme on 24th Oct. 2003, Friday after having a grand success for last two years.

2. Objective :
v To promote night tourism in Bhaktapur.
v To expose and promote the originality of rich Newah tradition and cultural activities.
v To preserve age old tradition and culture by catering benefits to the original cultural performers.
v To develop Bhaktapur as a cultural tourist hub.
v To explore Bhaktapur through its congested products.

3. Support and co-operation :
Behind the success of the event - "Bhaktapur Night-2003" various organizations local clubs, restaurants and the members of BTDC had played vital role. The program was being promoted by Nepal Tourism Board through Nepal Television, Classic F.M., Press Release and even supported by providing banner and others. Space time publication too supported the event by giving complementary advertizement for two days continuously. District development committee Bhaktapur has also extended its co-operation by supporting financially to the various square of Bhaktapur. In the same way Bhaktapur Municipality co-operated the event by weaving the charges of the programme premises and assissed financially in the part of cultural dances. Bhaktapur football club, cultural group, local tourist entrepreneurs, NATA, PATA, TURGAN, HAN, NATO, TAAN and some other organizations also supported & co-operated for the success of the program.

4. Activities :
Guests were welcomed at the tourist bus park in a traditional way by putting tika, red threat, providing souvenirs and lead around the city in a procession of traditional music under the illumination of oil lamps and oil tourches. At the Pottery Square heterogeneous cultural activities were lively demonstrated such as pottery making, Math weaving, preparation of beaten rice, traditional distillery "Aila", rice drying activities under the illumination of oil lamps in the Deepawali atmosphere, where guests could even entertain and involve in the activities. Then guests were lead toward Taumadhi Square with traditional tourches and musical band, guests felt amused with the beauty of Deepawali prepared at Nyatapola Temple and the lively demonstration of traditional hand loom at the square.
As the guests reached at Durbar Square, different cultural Newah dances were being performed. Just like-Arati Dance, Buranja, Jyapu-Jyapuni Dance, Mahakali Dance, Khya, Manjushree Dance, Dhimen Dance, Ghintang Ghisi etc., in which even guests could not stop with out participating by dancing and singing with the local cultural dance performers. At the same time guests were offered typical Newah dishes – Samya baji, Bulu, King curd, Chatamari etc.

5. Analysis :
As we promise, "Bhaktapur Night" programme to be continue annually. We were success to conduct the programme even though our country is facing internal crises. This year we have slightly change our ideas of selling ticket but freely invited to established tour operators of NATO, tourist entrepreneurs from HAN TAAN, NATA, TURGAN and other tourism organizations. So, that in coming future, it would be easy to promote "Bhaktapur Night" cultural event as a tourism product and development Bhaktapur as a cultural tourist destination. Comparing to the last year, we got huge crowd about 160 national and 96 international tourists some of V.I.P. personalities – C.E.O. of Nepal Tourism Board, important personalities from NATA, TAAN, TURGAN, NATO HAN and other local intellectual personalities also participated & enjoyed the programme.

6. Conclusion :
All in all, the event was grand success. Such kind of cultural activities is most essential in order to promote night tourism and preserve Bhaktapur as a cultural capital of Nepal. This event is supportive in conserving and preserving our ancient old traditions and culture, that is most attractive tourism product and it will definitely help in promoting Bhaktapur Night Programme as a most important tourism product for the development of tourism in Bhaktapur. It will even help in promoting "Night Tourism" and cultivating awareness of preserving our old custom; culture and traditions among the local community and even help to promote tourism of Nepal itself.