The Bhanu Foundation on Wednesday organised a programme at the Nepal Academy to commemorate poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya’s contribution to the development of Nepali language and literature. The event marked the 203rd birth anniversary of Acharya, who is hailed as the first Nepali poet. During the event, various scholars, artists and officials, including the Chief of Army Staff Rajendra Chhetri, garlanded and offered flowers at the statue of the Adikabi Bhanubhakta at the premises of the Academy.

Also honoured during the event were Prof Dr Basudev Tripathi and film director Yadav Kharel in recognition of their contribution to Nepali language and literature.

Speaking during the ceremony, Chancellor of Nepal Academy Ganga Prasad Uprety discussed the contributions made by Bhanubhakta.

To mark the occasion, a competitive rally was organised in the morning in which Annapurna Higher Secondary School, Saraswati Higher Secondary School and Internship International were awarded for standing first, second and third respectively.

Prior to this, a horse-drawn carriage with a mounted portrait of Bhanu Bhakta was paraded around the Capital’s main thoroughfare, in sync with various folk instruments.

In the course of the morning procession, Prof Dr Tripathi and film director Kharel were also party to the parade. Since the year 2033 BS, the Bhanu Foundation has set up the tradition of parading the poet’s portrait along with the personalities honoured on the occasion of the Adikabi’s birth anniversary.

Poet remembered in Lamjung

Aash Gurung

Adikabi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya was remembered in Bharletaar in Lamjung—poet’s maternal hometown. The Bharletaar locals on Wednesday paid tribute to the poet by discussing his texts on the occasion of his 203rd birth anniversary.

During the event, organised by Tareli Sahitya Samaaj, at the premises of Siddha Primary School, in Tallotaar, writers and literature enthusiasts gathered for the recital of Acharya’s Ramayana and other texts.

Litterateur Ramchandra Ghimire (Shashtri), speaking during the event, expressed appreciation for the late poet’s contributions to Nepali

literature. “Prithivi Narayan Shah unified Nepal, which is now on the verge of division into states,” said Ghimire, “but Bhanu Bhakta Acharya unified the Nepali language, and this will never be divided.”

Litterateurs Ramchandra Ghimire and Bishnuhari Ghimire both recited poems by Bhanu Bhakta Acharya at the event.