The Everest Nepal Cultural Group will be the first competitors from their country to take part in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod which is due to be held in July.

The group hold the same ideals of the International Eisteddfod in promoting human happiness and wishing the people of the world to live together in peace and happiness Gwyn Williams chief executive

During their visit the members aim to promote the development and conservation of the diverse culture of Nepal.

As well as being home to the highest mountains in the world, the country is known for its ferocious Ghurka warriors and being the birthplace of Buddha.

The Eisteddfod's musical director Eulanwy Davies said the visit promises to be one of the highlights of the competition.

Nepal is home to Mount Everest

"The visit of our friends from Nepal follows on from the extremely successful recent visit of the monks of the Labrang Monastery in Tibet.

"They were extremely colourful and absolutely fascinating and I fully expect the Everest group to equal, if not better that," she said.

The festival was formed in 1947 to foster international co-operation following the hostilities of World War II.

The event's chief executive Gwyn Williams said the Hindu beliefs of the visitors from Nepal fitted into the ethos of the festival.

Highlight

"The group hold the same ideals of the International Eisteddfod in promoting human happiness and wishing the people of the world to live together in peace and happiness," he said.

The competitors are based in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu.

They will sing and dance at the north Wales event to highlight the diversity within their country.

There are a number of different languages and cultural customs within Nepal.

The International Eisteddfod is one of the highlights of the Welsh cultural calendar and attracts more than 6,500 competitors from 47 countries each year.