President felicitated mountain summiteers

Rt. Hon’ble President of Nepal Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari, the Chief Guest of the program today inaugurated the Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Lhotse Diamond Jubilee program in Kathmandu today amidst a grand function. Chaired by Mr. Prem Kumar Rai, Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Chair of Main Organising Committee of Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Lhotse Diamond Jubilee Celebration 2016, the program was attended by a galaxy of luminaries from different walks of life including high government officials, prominent mountaineers, and foreign diplomats. The main attraction of the program was the legendary mountaineer and first successful Mt. Manaslu summiteer in 1956, Mr. Minoru Higeta, the only survivor of the first successful expedition.

In the event, the Chief Guest felicitated Mrs. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, Himalayan Trust, World Food Program, Mt Manaslu Summiteers-Mr. Noboru Higeta, Mr. Pertemba, Lhotse Sherpa and Manaslu Summiteers- Ms. Billi Berling, Mr. Mingma Sherpa, Mr. Ted Atkins and Mt. Lhotse summiteer Mr. Pemba Norbu Sherpa. The Chief Guest also released the special issue of Nepal Parbat. On the occasion, Mr. Minoru Higeta, His Excellency Mr. Urs Harrens Swiss Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Masashi Ogowan Japanese Ambassador and Honorable Minister of Information and Communication Mr. Sher Dhan Rai made special remarks. “Sixty years ago, I stood on top of Mount Manaslu,” Higeta said , in the function adding that his team was fortunate to be blessed by fine weather and strong support from Nepali Sherpas.

Japanese Ambassador Masashi Ogawa said the Japanese expedition’s successful ascent of the mountain, located in west-central Nepal, gave courage and hope to the Japanese people who were, at the time, demoralized by their defeat in World War II. The Chief Guest of the program Rt. Hon’ble President Bidhya Devi Bhandari highlighted the role of mountain tourism in Nepal. President of Japan Alpine Club, Mr. Masashi Kobayashi and President of Japan Mountaineering Association, Mr. Kunyki Yagihara was also present in the program. To commemorate Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Lhotse Diamond Jubilee Celebration 2016, a conference was organized on the theme “Challenges and Opportunities to promote mountain tourism in Manaslu and Lhotse Area”.

Mr. Sudharshan Prasad Dhakal chaired the conference, Director General of the Department of Tourism and Hon’ble State Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Bal Bahadur Mahat moderated by Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board, Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi. Mr. Ang Tsering Sherpa, President of Nepal Mountaineering Association also made a special remark on the paper presented there. Earlier in the morning, a colorful procession was taken from Tundikhel, which ended at the Narayanhiti Palace area. The Chief of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City felicitated Mr. Minoru Higeta at the civic reception at Narayanhiti Palace Museum. Mrs. Junko Tabie, first woman summiteer of Mt. Everest was also present.