PHOTO COURTESY BISHAL POUDEL
Himalaya Mantra owner Bishal Poudel presents his products outside of Zenna Wellness Center on Main Street in downtown Berlin. Poudel will participate in the upcoming Second Friday and items will be available for sale until 8 p.m.

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(June 13, 2019) Berlin residents and visitors can support a local busi- ness and take a cultural journey at the same time during this Friday’s Second Friday Art Stroll.

Bishal Poudel, owner of Himalaya Mantra, said the shop’s mission is to showcase items from Nepal that give back to the community a world away.

“We are focusing towards fair trade goods, women empowerment, and eco-friendly products,” Poudel said on his website.

Poudel, of West Ocean City, said Himalaya Mantra started as an online marketplace, but then Zenna Well- ness owner Chrissy Ehrhart contacted him and said the items would pair well with her business’s overall aes- thetic.

He said he’s been selling his Nepalese products inside Zenna Wellness Yoga Studio on Main Street since last September. Poudel said his items are available for purchase from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and through Sunday. As part of Berlin’s Second Friday, Himalaya Mantra will stay open from 5-8 p.m.

Poudel said shoppers could pur- chase such as authentic clothing, backpacks, jewelry and flags.

“All this stuff [comes from the country] of Mount Everest, [and] everything is handmade,” Poudel said.

For more information about the store, visit the “Himalaya Mantra” Facebook page at facebook.com/himalayamantra/, or check out the company’s website at himalayamantra.com.

Additionally, Berlin’s Arts and Entertainment Committee President Heather Layton said Friday’s event will include some exciting additions.

Makers Market on Jefferson and Commerce streets will accompany the Main Street extravaganza, but Layton said Snow Hill artist Olga Deshields is expected to create a chalk mural on
Broad Street with help from commu- nity members.

She added the artist would do this exercise as part of “a temporary art installation,” which is funded through a Maryland State Arts Council grant.

The 30th annual Bathtub Races will also take place Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Berlin.

For more information about the upcoming Second Friday Art Stroll, check out the “2nd Friday Stroll & Makers Market” Facebook page, or visit the Arts and Entertainment Committee’s website at artsinberlin.org/events/2019/6/14/2 nd-friday-stroll-amp-makers-market.