Mar 29, 2024

Government formally recognizes Mount Everest summiteers with a special batch

Government formally recognizes Mount Everest summiteers with a special batch

KATHMANDU, May 29:16th International Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) Day is celebrated in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu today by honoring Everest summiteers. Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) co-hosted the 16th Mount Everest Day with the Government of Nepal (Ministry for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation) and other tourism-relate umbrella organizations to acknowledge the first-ever successful ascent of the highest mountain in the world. 

This marks 70 years of the first-ever successful ascent of Mount Everest. Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgey successfully conquered the height and extreme of Mount Everest on 29th May 1953. 

After the demise of Sir Edmund Hillary in 2008, international Mount Everest Day is being celebrated every year on 29th May. 

On the 16th International Mount Everest Day, the government of Nepal recognized above 100 Mount Everest climbers with a Sagarmatha special batch. Mr. Kami Rita Sherpa, clinching the world record of the most successful ascent of Mount Everest with 28 times, Mr. Sanu Sherpa was the 1st person to successfully complete the double ascent of all the 14 eight-thousanders and many other renowned climbers from Nepal and abroad received the Sagarmatha special batch. 

The Government of Nepal also felicitated climbers with various awards. Mr. Sanu Sherpa was felicitated with Sagarmatha National Award and 27th-time Mount Everest summiteers Mr. Pasang Dawa Sherpa, Mr. Kishor Adhikari, and Ms. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa were felicitated with Tenzing Hillary Award.  

Honorable State Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) Mrs. Sushila Sirpali Thakuri conferred climbers with the batches. On the occasion, the Honorable State Minister also launched the Mount Everest special issue of Nepal Parbat, a publication of NMA. 

The Honorable State Minister also felicitated members of the rope-fixing team and the top-seven trekking agencies selling Mount Everest the most in the year 2022.

The Honourable state minister hailed the distribution of batches to the climbers as important work in recognizing the climbers. ‘‘This is really important work for climbers and Nepal as well. The climbers will get recognition worldwide as Mount Everest Summiteer and the logo of the Government of Nepal inscribed on the batch will also help Nepal to get recognition worldwide’’, said the state minister. 

The Secretary of MoCTCA Mr. Suresh Adhikari announced that the Government of Nepal will organize such celebrations on the first successful summits of other eight-thousanders of Nepal as well. 

‘‘Mountains are the backbone of Nepali tourism. Therefore, we should preserve and promote our mountains’’, Secretary Mr. Adhikari said. ‘‘The Ministry is committed to creating a tourism-friendly environment in Nepal. The Ministry will organize such celebrations of other eight-thousanders of Nepal in days to come.’’

President of NMA Mr. Nima Nuru Sherpa promised to focus on training in enhancing its efforts in promoting mountain tourism of Nepal. ‘‘NMA has been safeguarding the mountains of Nepal for the last 50 years. However, we have to enhance our activities and reach’’, President Sherpa said. ‘‘NMA will focus more on training to produce skillful human resources for the safety of mountaineering in Nepal.’’

Director General of Department of Tourism (DoT) Mr. Hom Prasad Luitel, President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Mr. Nil Hari Bastola, Chairman of Jugal Rural Municipality Mr. Resham Syngbo and Vice-Chairman of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Mr. Chandra Rijal stressed on sustainable promotion of Nepali mountain tourism.

Before a formal event, climbers from Nepal and abroad took part in a rally. The rally started from Thamel, a tourism hub of Kathmandu, and traveled to the Nepal Tourism Board hall via Keshar Mall, King's Way, Ghanta Ghar, and  Ratna Park.   

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