February 12: The 18th Sauraha Food Festival has commenced in Sauraha, a riverside vacation place in Chitwan district, on the occasion of Valentine's Day.    
Hari Dhakal, a member of the House of Representatives elected from Chitwan, on Sunday, inaugurated the five-day festival featuring various cuisines and entertainment programmes.    
On the occasion, he said the state should ramp up investment for the development of tourism sector.    
Bagmati Province Assembly member Krishna Prasad Khanal, Ratnanagar Municipality mayor Prahlad Sapkota, Chief District Officer Bhupendra Thapa, central vice president of Restaurant and Bar Asscoation of Nepal (REBAN), Sangharsha Bista, Hotel Association Sauraha’s regional president Ganga Giri, REBAN founder president Balaram Dahal, REBAN Women's Group president Laxmi Bidari, among other speakers also put their views on the occasion.    
The food festival organized by REBAN Sauraha, Chitwan will run till February 15. Festival coordinator Surya Bahadur Rimal said the festival has been organized with the aim to revive tourism activities in Sauraha by promoting food, music and culture together. -- RSS