Nepal Honours Climbers to mark 70th Anniversary of Ascending Mt. Everest

On 29^th May 1953, a beekeeper from New Zealand along with his Sherpa guide Norgay, made history by becoming the first known human beings to reach the pinnacle of the treacherous terrain of the highest mountain peak in the world.

Nepal honoured record-holding Sherpa guides and climbers on Monday, 29^th May 2023, to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the maiden ascent of Mt. Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.  Thousands of government officials and Sherpa guides participated in a rally to mark the anniversary, waving banners that read ‘Save the Himalayas’.  Amongst those honoured included Sherpa guides Kami Rita, who ascended Mt. Everest a record-breaking 28 times, and Sanu Sherpa who climbed the 14 highest peaks in the world twice.

Hillary died on 11^th January 2008 while Norgay passed away on 9^th May 1986.  Nepal began to celebrate the anniversary of the ascent of Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on 29^th May 1953 as Everest day, after Hillary’s death in 2008.

Hari Budha Magar who was the first double above-the-knee amputee to climb Mt. Everest, was also honoured by Sushila Sirpali Thakuri, Nepal’s Tourism Minister.

A silver badge that was encrypted with the logo of Everest was distributed on the occasion to dozens of Nepalese and foreign Everest summiteers.  Those who received the badge included an Indian citizen who climbed the 8,848.86 metres high Mt. Everest in 2021.    French, North American and Russian climbers were also bestowed with this honour.

Mohan Lamsal, the general secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association said that they were honouring local and foreign climbers who have climbed Mt. Everest, with medals for the first time.  Officials stated that a special programme was also organised to honour the families of Norgay and Hillary after whose herculean efforts 7 decades ago, 7,621 mountaineers scaled Everest.  According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism, over 600 have ascended Mt Everest during this spring season, which commences in March and ends by the end of May after which monsoon winds and melting temperatures make it hazardous for climbing.

8 of the 14 mountains in the world that are higher than 8,000 metres are in Nepal, which has so far opened 414 mountains for climbing.  In commemoration of the day, when Hillary and Norgay ascended Mt. Everest, the Nepal government celebrates May 29^th as Mt. Everest Day every year.

Coincidentally, Mt. Everest Day and Republic Day fall on the same day in Nepal.