The Nepal Weekly 
June 6, 2023
Nepal last week, May 29, observed the 16th International Everest Day coinciding with the 70th anniversary of successful ascent of Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. It was on May 29, 1953 that humans put their feet on roof of the world.
On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Mt Everest for the first time scripting a new history. In commemoration of human ascent of the Everest, ‘Platinum Jubilee’ of conquering the Everest was also observed organizing a special programme.
A grand rally was organized in Kathmandu on May 29 morning with the participation of more than 1,000 people including Everest summiteers, mountain guides, expedition organizers, tourism enterpreneurs, government officials, journalists and environmentalists. A grand rally led by Minister of State for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sushila Sirpali Thakuri, went around the city starting from Thamel, the tourist hub of Kathmandu via Durbarmarg and Ranipokhari and concluded at Nepal Tourism Board at Bhrikutimandap, taking a round of the city early morning on Mondy. People were carrying banners of Mt. Everest, national flags and placards with the slogans such as let’s clean the mountain, save the Himalayas, clean Himalaya beautiful Nepal etc. An organizing committee was formed under the chair of Suresh Adhikari, secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to mark the occasion in a grand manner.
During the programme organized by the Nepal TOurism Board in Kathmandu, a number of record climbers were felicitated. Sanu Sherpa of Shankhuwasbha, Nepal was honoured with Sagarmatha National Award for climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 metre twice. Similarly, Pasang Dawa Sherpa, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa and Kishor Adhikari, senior Nepal Army officer received Tenzing Hillary Award. Pasang Dawa was honoured for climbing the Everest for 27 times while Pasang Lhamu was honoured for becoming the first Nepali female climber to summit Dhaulagiri and to become the first Nepali female to climb nine eight thousanders. In the same manner, Adhikari was honoured for climbing the Everest thrice and leading clean Himalaya campaign for the past three years.
On the occasion Kami Rita Sherpa was honoured for climbing the Everest for record 28 times and Hari Budhamagar was honoured for successfully climbing the Everest as a double amputee climber.
On the occasion silver coated badge encrypted with the logo of Mt. Everest were distributed to dozens of Nepalese and foreign Everest summiteers. Those receiving the batch include Manita Pradhan from North-East India, who climbed the Everest in 2021. Other foreign climbers receiving the batch include mountaineers from Russia, North America, South America and France.
Medals were awarded to record climbers and other veteran mountaineers during the program. Mohan Lamsal, the general secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association, informed that for the first time a medal was presented to the climber on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Everest climb. “For the first time, we are honouring local and foreign climbers who have climbed Mt Everest with medals,” he said.
Similarly, a special program was organized in Khumjung of Solukhumbu near the Mt. Everest on Monday to mark the occasion. Durign the programme the families of Tenzing Sherpa and Hilary were honoured.
In the period of 70 years between 1953 to 2022, altogether 7,621 mountaineers climbed the Everest and around 300 died while attempting to be on top of the world. This spring around 600 people reached atop the Everest, according to Department of Tourism.
