Diamond Jubilee of Mt Manaslu and Lhotse in offing

CB Adhikari (Kathmandu) / April 7: Nepal’s fame in the international community is primarily enhanced by the magnificence of the great Himalayan range stretching across Nepal’s northern part.

Nepal is home to eight mountains standing above 8,000 meters mark including the highest mountain in the world, Mt Everest. The other mountains above 8,000 meters include Mt Kangchenjunga, Mt Lhotse, Mt Makalu, Mt Cho Oyu, Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Manaslu and Mt Annapurna.

Among these mountains, Mt Manaslu and Mt Lhotse are celebrating the ‘Manaslu-Lhotse Diamond Jubilee’ on April 30. The jubilee marks the ascent of 8,163 meters high Mt Manaslu by four climbers that include a Nepali and three Japanese 60 years ago. Mt Lhotse, which is 8,516 meters high, was scaled in the same period by two Swiss nationals.

On May 9, 1956 Japanese national Toshio Imanishi and Nepali Gyalzen Norbu Sherpa successfully scaled Mt Manaslu and two days after on May 11 the feat was achieved by other two Japanese nationals including Minoru Higeta. On May 18, 1956, two Swiss nationals successfully ascended Mt Lhotse.

Japanese climber Minoru Higeta, the only surviving climber from the group, is now travelling to Nepal at the age of 90. Higeta will be accompanied by 87 other Japanese climbers from the Japanese Media and Mountaineering Federation.

Although the Swiss nationals that scaled Mt Lhotse are still alive, they will not be coming to Nepal and will be represented by other mountaineers. The ceremony will be attended by Nepal-based Swiss envoy.

The Diamond Jubilee resonates a promise of a revival in a country reeling under the impact of the massive earthquake and trade blockade at the southern border, according to authorities.

Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prem Kumar Rai, said the Diamond Jubilee of the two mountains will help boost tourism sector flailing under a dwindling number of tourists and impart a message of the importance of visiting Nepal.

“Nepal’s tourism means the mountains, so the arrival of mountaineers that scaled Mt Manaslu and Mt Lhotse 60 years ago to participate in Diamond Jubilee shows its own dignity and importance,” said Secretary Rai, who also heads the Diamond Jubilee Main Organizing Committee.

President Bhandari to inaugurate celebration

President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to inaugurate the festival in Kathmandu. A 47-member main organising committee led by secretary at the Ministry of Tourism has been formed upon a decision taken by the Cabinet to observe the festival. Various 44 organisations will lend their support to the festival, said secretary Rai.

He added that the sub committees formed by the main organising committee have already started preparations for the festival.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) Ang Tshering Sherpa said that the festival would help in spreading a message to the world that Nepal is still a safe tourist destination even following devastating April 25 earthquake. NMA is member secretary of the organising committee as well.

Mountaineers and media from various countries are expected to arrive in Nepal to attend the festival.

While Nepal has requested more than 100 Alpine Clubs and their sister organisations across the world to participate, Sherpa said that mountaineers from the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Switzerland are sure to partake in the festival.

Besides, the event will also be observed in Gorkha and at the foot of Mt. Manaslu amidst various programmes.

Upon the conclusion of the festival in Kathmandu, Japanese Mountaineers will be heading towards the Manaslu area to partake in the festival there. RSS