Sept 18
04:00pm –
04:50pm
Chautari Hall
OPENING CEREMONY BEGINS – POKHARA, NEPAL
Local vegan and animal rights activists, advocates, educators, celebrities, chefs, conservationists, environmentalists, organizers, athletes, and plant-based entrepreneurs are joined by delegates from over 27 countries to launch the Himalayan Vegan Festival celebrations in Pokhara, Nepal. The opening ceremony marks the official launch of the biggest vegan event ever in Pokhara and the start of the first-ev-er Himalayan Vegan Festival. The festive celebrations this evening include live music & dance performances, special cultural programs, two fantastic workshops on the benefits of a plant-based diet for health, the environment, and animals, and a fabulous vegan feast of local Himalayan delicacies. Don’t miss out on this landmark celebration to mark the official start of this history-making event in Pokhara!
Special Guest Speakers
- Dr. Susianto Tseng (World Vegan Organisation Founder and Doctor in Nutrition)
Palak Mehta (Founder and CEO of Vegan First, India) - Karma Dendup (Founder of Jangsem Monday, Meatless Monday Bhutan, Animal advocate and film director & producer)
- Dr. Sailesh Rao Ph.D. (Founder of Climate Healers, Human, Earth & Animal Liberation Activist)
- Shristi Singh Shrestha (Animal rights advocate, vegan activist and vice-president, Animal Nepal)
- Keegan Kuhn (Award-winning documentary filmmaker, director and producer of Cowspiracy and What the Health)
- Kuntal Joisher (Vegan Mountaineer and two-time Everest summitter)
- Ken Spector (Head of marketing and key principal at HappyCow– the largest vegan/vegetarian website in the world)
- Seth Tibbott (Founder of Tofurky and Turtle Island Foods – the world’s pioneer in vegan food products, and Tempeh Expert)
- Venerable Deokhyeon (Monk, Author)
Sept 18
05:00pm –
05:50pm
Chautari Hall
WHAT IS VEGANISM? WHY IS IT A BETTER DIET?
Vegan, veganism, and plant-based – you’ve heard the words, now learn what they mean! Will I get enough protein, where will I get my calcium, can I still play sports and be strong? How does what I eat really impact the environment and climate change? And even if it all sounds good – how can I afford it? Is it just a trending diet for the rich? These and many more questions are answered in an in-depth conversation with some of the region’s and world’s leading experts who explore the health, environmental and affordable benefits of a plant-based diet – which has a lot more to offer us than most people know.
Speakers
- Dr. Zeeshan Ali (Program specialist at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine)
- Dr. Vidya Chakravarthy (Award-winning plant-based ayurvedic doctor)
- Dr. Nandita Shah (Award-winning author and disease prevention advocate)
- Ken Spector (Head of marketing and key principal at HappyCow)
Moderator
- Kuntal Joisher (Vegan mountaineer and two-time Everest summitter)
Sept 18
06:00pm –
06:50pm
Chautari Hall
VEGANISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN ROOTED IN
HIMALAYAN CULTURES
Veganism is rooted in compassion and non-violence, or Ahimsa as it is known in many cultures in South Asia. Veganism is not a novel concept to Himalayan culture, it has always been part of the tradition and cuisine of the Himalayas. Discuss parallels between the Himalayan culture and vegan culture as you dive into its very foundations to discover how strongly connected the culture of the country is to plant-based eating and compassion. As well as why veganism means
Ahimsa and how the foundation for Veganism already exists across the cultures and religions that practice Ahimsa.
Speakers
- Dr. Hari Prasad Pokharel (Head of department, Yoga & Naturopathy in Nepal Sanskrit University)
- Karma Dendup (Founder of Jangsem Monday (Meatless Monday Bhutan) animal advocate, film director & producer)
- Perik Rinpoche (Founder of Dharmaprabha Foundation, Vice-President of WVO Nepal)
Moderator
- Deepak Raj Joshi (Vegan Writer)
Sept 18
07:00pm –
07:50pm
Chautari Hall
OPENING CEREMONY DINNER
Special vegan feast of Himalayan delicacies from across the region all 100% veganized for this absolutely delicious plant-based celebration in the heart of Nepal!
