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Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey has described Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) as not only the pride of Nepal but of the entire world. Speaking at a ceremony held in Basantapur today to mark International Sagarmatha Day, the Minister called for greater awareness and global collaboration in preserving and promoting the world’s highest peak.
“Sagarmatha is our identity and pride. The world also shares in that pride,” Minister Pandey said. “We must work collectively to conserve this global treasure and promote it as a destination that represents natural majesty and climate urgency alike.”
He highlighted the recent Sagarmatha Sambaad-a global dialogue hosted by Nepal-as a milestone in raising awareness about climate change. “Through Sagarmatha Sambaad, we conveyed to the international community the threats Nepal faces due to climate change, especially the melting of Everest’s snow. This issue affects not just us but the entire planet,” he added.
Commemorating a Historic Ascent
The day began with a morning procession in Thamel, a hub for tourists and mountaineering enthusiasts, followed by a formal program attended by government officials, tourism stakeholders, and members of the public.
Among the notable participants were Officiating Tourism Secretary Indu Ghimire, Director General of the Department of Tourism Narayan Regmi, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Deepak Raj Joshi, and representatives from various tourism and conservation organizations.
A wreath-laying ceremony was also held at the life-size statue of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary, located on the premises of the Nepal Tourism Board, honoring the duo’s pioneering ascent of Everest.
Legacy of May 29, 1953
International Sagarmatha Day is celebrated annually on May 29, commemorating the historic first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on this day in 1953. The event honors not only their achievement but also the enduring spirit of adventure, environmental stewardship, and international unity that Sagarmatha represents.
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