Kathmandu Metropolitan City Promotes Local Flowers for Tihar, Bans Imports and Plastics

Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is continuing its drive to promote local produce by once again banning the sale of imported and plastic flower garlands for the upcoming Tihar festival.

The initiative, led by Mayor Balen Shah, aims to discourage imported goods and fully prohibit plastic flowers, a policy the KMC has been enforcing for the past three years. The primary goal is to prioritize and encourage Nepali farmers who produce flowers.

Starting Kartik 1 (approximately mid-October), KMC has designated 32 specific locations across the city for the sale and distribution of domestically grown flowers.

These spots—which include areas near NV Center (Naya Baneshwor), Big Mart (Shankhamul), Tinkune Ground, Chabahil AC Complex, Kalimati, and Ratna Park—are intended to provide farmers with direct and easy access to the market.

KMC, in collaboration with the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and the Floriculture Association Nepal, will monitor cold storage and market areas to ensure that genuine farmers receive fair prices for their produce.

The city also confirmed that measures are in place to support the transportation of flowers and take action against illegal garland sellers.

Mayor Shah's post highlighted that Nepal is now nearly self-sufficient in Marigold (Sayapatri) and Globe Amaranth (Makhamali) flowers.

The city encourages consumers to use only local flowers, stating, "Our culture and flowers bloomed in Nepal are our identity and our pride."