296th Prithive Jayanti being observed today (Photo Feature)
KATHMANDU, Jan 11: The 296th Prithivi Jayanti and the National Unification Day is being observed across the country today to mark the birth anniversary of Late King Prithivi Narayan Shah.
Born in 1779 BS on Poush 27, Prithivi Narayan Shah is credited for the unification of Nepal.
On the occasion, President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba garlanded the life-size statue of the builder of the nation, Prithvi Narayan Shah, at a ceremony held in front of the west gate to the Singha Durbar on Thursday.
Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeetendra Narayan Dev, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Bikram Bahadur Thapa, Minister for Supplies Jayanta Chand, Chief of the Army Staff Rajendra Chhetri, the Chancellors, Vice-chancellors and member secretaries of various academies, and Nepali Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, the Chiefs of the Nepal Police and the Armed Police and government high officials also garlanded the late king’s statue.
Likewise, the representatives of various organisations and members of the general public offered bouquets and garlands at the statue of the unifier of modern Nepal on the occasion.
A contingent of the Nepalese Army offered a guard of honour to the President. Prithvi Jayanti and the National Unification Day is celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety from this year after the government announced a public holiday on this Day after a gap of 11 years.
Photo: Mukunda Kalikote/Reporters’ Club Nepal