Kathmandu, April 18: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has launched the ‘Vehicle Free Asan’ programme from today to preserve the originality of the ancient urban settlement, Asan.
KMC Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol said the programme will be implemented in the areas from Kamilachhi (Kamalakshi) Chowk to Asan, Bhotahiti Chowk to Asan, and from Mahabouddha to Asan.
In the course of this programme, which takes place every Saturday, vehicle entry in Asan will be prohibited. KMC has been continuously working to protect, promote, and advance tangible, intangible, natural, and recorded heritage within its geographical and administrative jurisdiction.
It is expected that work done in this way will ensure the continuation of Kathmandu’s cultural identity, traditional lifestyle within the city, festivals, and cultural rituals across generations.
Managing the increasing human and vehicular traffic had become challenging in the inner urban areas of Kathmandu in recent period.
The spokesperson of KMC, Naveen Manandhar, stated that KMC organised the programme because it had become difficult to sustain cultural and social practices in their original form which has had a negative impact on the identity of Kathmandu.
According to him, social and cultural activities, exhibitions of indigenous knowledge and skills, singing, musical performances and dances will be conducted in Asan area on Saturdays.
Spokesperson Manandhar said that activities will be carried out to preserve, protect and promote the tangible and intangible heritage in that area. Activities to display and promote customary religious, cultural, social, and traditional commercial activities would also be held in Asan area on Saturday.
