Sirubari to mark homestay silver jubilee

Arjun Kafle / Syangja, Feb. 13: Sirubari, a village in Syngja district which is South Asia’s first model community homestay, is preparing to celebrate its silver jubilee. Jitendra Gurung, Chairman of Sirubari Tourism Development Committee, said that Sirubari Community Homestay which was launched in 1998, is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary on 17 and 18 February.

Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Sudan Kirati, ministers of Gandaki Provincial Government and other dignitaries are expected to participate in the celebration.

The homestay was established by late Captain Rudraman Gurung with the idea of promoting the Gurung civilisation and culture around the world and making the village prosperous by bringing domestic and foreign guests here.

Gurung had conceptualized the idea in 1978 and he could materialize it after about two decades with the development of basic infrastructure. When tourists began to flock to homestays in Sirubari, the concept was spread all over the country.

Sirubari is at a height of 1,600 meters above sea level can be reached after traveling to Nagdanda, 20 km south from Pokhara on the Siddartha Highway, and 15 km west from Nagdanda.

Sibarubari village is located on the lap of the holy pilgrimage site Dahare Deurali hill and the district’s highest hill, Thumro. A view tower has also been constructed atop the Thumro hill to attract tourists to the panoramic village.

Beautiful view of mountains like Annapurna, Dhawalagiri and Machhapuchhre, and Pokhara city, as well as Srinagar hill of Palpa can be viewed from the tower. The village has a tradition of playing musical instruments and welcoming guests with flowers, garlands during wedding, Bratabandha, and when welcoming migrant Nepali workers.

The village welcomes the guests first by playing traditional musical instruments and garlanding them by members of the tourism committee, mothers’ group and youth club.

There is a tradition of presenting cultural programmes like Ghatu, Sorathi, Salaijo, Jhoda, Jhyaure, Bhadaure Bhaka, Bhajan Chudka at night after informing the guests about the village of Sirubari. Houses covered with slates, stone fireplace, the artistry of the stone walls attract every tourist who reaches Sirubari.

Majority of people in Sirubari are Buddhists, there is an equal belief in Hinduism, and although the main occupation of the village is agriculture and animal husbandry, most of the young are in the Indian and British army and foreign employment in the Gulf.

Gurung said that because of the increasing migration, the homestay is shrunk to 22 households from 43 houses in Andhikhola Rural Municipality–1, Panchamul.

Sirubari has received honours and awards such as National Home Entrepreneur Award 2047, National Youth Forest Award 2050, National Forest Award 2052, and Hill Area Development Award 2062. The village is also featured on postage stamps.