The Phuentshogling mega-night has been drawing a huge crowd with thousands in attendance every day. The live-music event is expected to bring back the liveliness of the city and help revive the local economy. The five-day event began yesterday and concludes on Tuesday.
Claimed the country’s first mega live music event, 19 local bands will perform at the PSA football ground every night starting from 9 PM to 3 AM. Besides live performances and DJ nights, there are stalls selling food, drinks and merchandise, and a live world cup match screening.
Stall owners who mostly run restaurants and bars in Phuentshogling have set high hopes.
“For the past two years, we have not been able to do good business due to the prolonged lockdown caused by COVID-19. We hope this event will help us make some income. But the rent of Nu 7,000 every day is a concern,” said a stall owner Kinley Wangmo.
“Even though we are residing nearby border areas, we feel it has not benefited us much. We are not able to compete whether it’s business or otherwise,” said Yeshi Pelden, who runs a hotel. “As such, as a hotelier, for now, the only hope is this event. After the introduction of SDF, not many tourists are coming to our hotels.”
According to the Phuentshogling Thromde office, the event will not only help boost the local economy but also help make Phuentshogling an entertainment hub.
“Since the border gate reopening on 23rd September, local businesses here have been hampered with fewer customers coming to their shops. Moreover, the town has not seen a good business opportunity in the last few years. That is why we are organizing this event,” said Phuentshogling Thrompon Uttar Kumar Rai. “We are expecting visitors from the twenty districts and nearby bordering town as well.”
The Thromde has plans to organize such events annually if the event is successful this time.
Passang Dorji, Phuentshogling
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
