Kathmandu: The Nepali Army paid tribute to the nation builder Prithvi Narayan Shah by garlanding his statue on January 11.
Chief of the Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel paid homage to the Builder of the Nation, Prithvi Narayan Shah, by offering a wreath at the late king’s statue located at the Army Headquarters premises. Prithvi Narayan Shah, who initiated the national unification campaign, is the founder of the Nepali Army.
On that occasion, a contingent of the Nepali Army offered a guard of honour to the Builder of the Nation.
The former Chiefs of Army Staff, high-ranking army officers, and personnel of all ranks also paid tribute and saluted the statue on that occasion.
The Gorkha-Kathmandu National Unification Route March, organised by the Nepali Army along the route used by Prithvi Narayan Shah during the unification of Nepal, concluded upon reaching the special event venue. The Army organised the Gorkha-Kathmandu National Unification Route March to mark the 304th Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day.
A contingent from the Shri Rudradhwaj Battalion stationed in Gorkha, featuring historical military uniforms and traditional musical instruments, along with the national flag of Nepal, and the flags and torches of the first five companies of the Nepali Army instituted back then (Shreenath, Kalibaks, Bardawani, Purano Gorakh, and Sabuj), participated in the Gorkha-Kathmandu National Unification Route March.
Programmes such as a speech on the contributions of nation builder Prithvi Narayan Shah, a short play and documentary show, and a poetry competition were organised at the Army Headquarters on the same occasion.
The Army Public Relations and Information Directorate has stated that various programmes were conducted across the country and in different units of the Nepali Army stationed abroad to grandly celebrate such events as Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day.
The 27th of the Nepali month Poush is celebrated as Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day every year.
