71st Int'l Everest Day being observed today

KATHMANDU, May 29: The 71st International Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) Day is being celebrated here today by organising various programmes.    

The Day is being marked in memory of the first-ever successful summit of the world's highest peak-Mt Everest (Sagarmatha)- by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953. The erstwhile government in 2008 decided to observe the Day worldwide.     

On the occasion, a morning rally was organized in Kathmandu at the initiation of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Participants displayed banners and placards carrying slogans including the major one for this year- 'World's Highest Peak-Sagarmath, Identity and Pride of Nepal'.    

Representatives of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Association Tours and Travel Agents Nepal (NATTA), Thamel Tourism Development Council among others tourism related organizations had joined the rally, it was shared. 

It may be noted that Minister for Finance Barshaman Pun in his budget speech in the Federal Parliament on May 28 this year pledged to celebrate the International Everest (Sagarmatha) Day annually as a special day.    

The Finance Minister also mentioned that those national and international individuals and organizations contributing towards mountain tourism would be feted on the occasion.