Nepali government officials place garlands on the statues of New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepal's Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. Pics/AFP
Thousands of Sherpa guides and government officials participated in a rally here to mark the 70th anniversary. Among those honoured include Sherpa guides Kami Rita, who climbed Everest for a record 28 times, and Sanu Sherpa, who climbed all the world's 14 highest peaks twice
On the occasion, a silver badge encrypted with the logo of Everest was distributed to dozens of Nepalese and foreign Everest summiteers
A special programme was also organised to honour the families of Norgay and Hillary, officials said.
Since their herculean efforts seven decades ago, 7,621 mountaineers have scaled Everest. Over 600 have scaled Everest during this spring season, according to Nepal's Department of Tourism
The climbing season begins in March and ends by the end of May, following which monsoon winds and melting temperatures make it hazardous for climbing. Nepal has so far opened 414 mountains for climbing. Eight of the 14 mountains higher than 8,000 metres in the world are in Nepal
In commemoration of the day when Hillary and Norgay climbed Mt Everest, the Nepal government celebrates May 29 every year as Mt Everest Day
ADVERTISEMENT
