Kathmandu: The 300th birth anniversary of King Prithvi Narayan Shah is being celebrated across the country today by organizing a variety of programs. The event is celebrated every year on Poush 27 of the lunar calendar.
Shah was born on 27 Poush 1779 BS in Gorkha to King Narabhupal Shah and Queen Kaushalyavati. Prithvi Narayan became the King on Chaitra 25, 1799 BS. Before that, Nepal was divided into 52 principalities. After Prithvi Narayan became king, he succeeded in extending the border of Nepal from Tista in the east to Chepe River in the west. After the demise of Prithvi Narayan, his successors worked to expand the state of Nepal to the fort of Kangada in the west.
Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that we all were responsible to usher our country in the path of progress, which was built due to the sacrifice of our brave ancestors.
In a message on the occasion of the 300th birth anniversary of the country’s founding father King Prithvi Narayan Shah, also National Unity Day, here today, President Bhandari paid heartfelt tributes towards late King Shah.
Extending best wishes to all Nepalis sisters and brothers at home and abroad on the National Unity Day, Bhandari expressed her confidence that the day would encourage us all to fulfill the national aspiration of the ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ as well as to keep the national sovereignty, national unity intact.
The National Unity Day is observed in honor of late King Shah who unified various principalities and founded modern Nepal some 250 years ago.
She asserted that Nepal always remained a sovereign country due to the glorious contribution of the patriotic forefathers. The Head of the State said that the history had it that the then king of Gorkha, Prithivi Narayan Shah, had contributed hugely in unifying the country geographically and emotionally.
Furthermore, President Bhandari viewed that the purpose of the unification bid was to build a strong country with an independent economy by exploiting the natural resources and heritage here.
According to her, the unification bid of Nepal had laid a basis to forge stronger national unity by conserving the unique cultures, languages and traditions of the country. “The insightful suggestions and messages given by Prithvi Narayan Shah surrounding social, economical and foreign policies are still relevant.”
She said that we could ensure the socio-economic transformation of the country if we move ahead acknowledging and applying the suggestions offered by far-sighted Prithvi Narayan Shah, the major actor of the unification bid.
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