For the first time, a Nepali festival was successfully organized in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The event aimed to promote Nepal’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity while inspiring interest among the younger generation.

The festival was jointly organized on Monday by the Embassy of Nepal in the UK and the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Scotland. It brought together Nepalis from various parts of Scotland to celebrate and share their culture and heritage. As part of the event, the Nepali Embassy also provided passport and consular services to members of the community.

People from various Nepali ethnic groups—including Newar, Magar, Gurung, and Sherpa communities—participated in the celebration by showcasing their traditional attire, cultural processions, and musical performances. Bishnu Sharma, a local attendee at Edinburgh’s Princes Street West Garden, described the festival as a joyful and lively event.

The program saw the presence of Nepal’s Ambassador to the UK, embassy staff, and senior officials from Scottish government bodies. Ambassador Chandra Kumar Ghimire remarked that the festival played a vital role in promoting Nepal’s cultural diversity on an international stage.

Popular artists from Nepal—Dhiraj Rai, Sunita Dulal, and Bhumikha Shah—entertained the audience with musical performances. The chief guest, Scotland’s Minister for Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville, praised Nepal’s vibrant cultural heritage and expressed confidence that the festival would grow bigger and better in the future, contributing further to cultural exchange.

Diwakar Pandey, President of NRNA Scotland, stated that the festival serves as an important platform for promoting mutual understanding between Nepali and British cultures. He noted that approximately 8,000 Nepalis currently reside in Scotland and shared plans to expand and enhance the festival in the coming years.