Khotang all set for Honey Hunting Festival

Khotang, May 8

A traditional honey hunting festival will be organised in Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality on May 22 with the aim of promoting local tourism and conserving the endangered giant cliff honeybee, locally known as bhir mauri.

The festival is being jointly organised by the rural municipality and the Ministry of Forest and Environment at Fedi, an area connected to the Mundum Trail, one of Nepal’s 100 designated tourist destinations.

According to Rural Municipality Chair Sameer Rai, the event aims to conserve the cliff honeybee population while linking the centuries-old tradition of honey hunting with eco-tourism promotion.

More than a dozen cliffs in Fedi are known habitats of giant Himalayan bees. Traditional honey hunting has been practised in the area for generations, particularly by the Kirant Rai (Sampang) community, which considers the honey culturally and spiritually significant.

Local honey hunter Hasta Ram Rai said he has been involved in honey hunting for nearly five decades and that younger generations are now learning the traditional skills.

Honey hunting is carried out twice a year using traditional methods and locally made tools. Locals gather during the harvesting season with indigenous food and cultural celebrations.

The honey, believed to have medicinal value due to its collection from herbaceous flowers, is supplied to markets in Kathmandu, Dharan, Biratnagar, and even exported to cities including London, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Organisers believe the festival will help preserve both biodiversity and indigenous cultural heritage while attracting domestic tourists to eastern Nepal.

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