71st International Everest Day celebrated with special programs

KATHMANDU: The 71st International Everest Day is being celebrated today with a series of special programs to commemorate the first successful ascent of Mount Everest. The government designated May 29 as International Everest Day to honor the historic achievement of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary, who reached the summit in 1953.

This year’s celebrations include a formal program organized by the main organizing committee to recognize record-holding climbers and their support teams. Since the first ascent, over 8,000 people have successfully climbed Mount Everest.

According to the Department of Tourism, 424 people received permits to climb Everest this season. Among them, more than 600 climbers, including Sherpas, have reached the summit. Notably, Kami Rita Sherpa has set a world record by climbing Mount Everest 30 times.

Additionally, climber Purnima Shrestha has achieved a new milestone by summiting three times in a single season. She also holds the record as the first woman to climb Mount Everest in approximately 15 hours.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal extended his best wishes on the occasion. He expressed hope that Everest Day will continue to attract adventure tourists from around the world to Nepal. The Prime Minister also highlighted the impacts of global climate change on Everest and other mountains.

He stressed the need for international cooperation and coordination to keep the mountains pollution-free and to manage the challenges posed by climate change and mountain waste.

The celebration of International Everest Day serves as a reminder of the remarkable achievements in mountaineering and the ongoing efforts to preserve the natural beauty and integrity of the Himalayas.