The government on Thursday organised a concert on the occasion of the ninth Constitutional Day with the stated goal of connecting with the youth.

The KP Sharma Oli-led coalition government of the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress facilitated the National Day Concert for National Unity at Durbar Marg, in front of Narayanhiti Palace at the heart of Kathmandu.

Government officials, however, claimed that the concert was mainly organised and run by the public.

The government organised the main Constitution Day ceremony at the Army Ground at Khulamanch earlier in the morning.

Though the Tundikhel function was the day’s main event, the concert was organised to connect the public, especially youth, with the constitution, according to an official at the prime minister’s secretariat.

The official at the prime minister’s secretariat said that coordination with artists was done at the citizen’s level while the government also facilitated the event.

At a press conference on September 16, Krishna Hari Pushkar, a secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, speaking about the function, said, “This time, we are organising a public concert to mark the Constitution Day from the people’s level.”

Pushkar added that the concert would make Nepal’s historic journey towards democracy and constitution-making memorable.

While officials portrayed the concern as an event organised by the citizens, people looked annoyed by the presence of thousands of security personnel at and around the venue.

Officials defended the deployment as a security measure. Thousands of youths participated in the concert carrying the national flag.

Prime Minister Oli, in blue jeans and a shiny jacket, attended the event along with his wife, Radhika Shakya, and some ministers including Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply Damodar Bhandari.

The concert featured popular artists including Ananda Karki, Kunti Moktan, Devika Bandana, Sugam Pokharel, Deepak Limbu, Pramod Kharel, Subani Moktan, Swapna Suman and renowned bands Kutumba and Elements.

In preparation for the concert, vehicles were restricted from Wednesday, causing traffic disruptions at and around Durbar Marg, Putalisadak, Lazimpat, Naxal and other thoroughfares at the city centre.