Nepalis celebrated Dhoti Day and Topi Day on Wednesday, showcasing their commitment to preserving traditional attire and promoting unique identity.

The Janamat Party marked Dhoti Day at Maitighar, where members of the Student Janamat Union and Youth Janamat Union organised rallies and corner meetings. Highlighting the cultural significance of dhoti, participants asserted that no one should face discrimination based on their choice to wear the attire. They also called for recognising International Dress Day as Dhoti Day in Nepal to preserve dhoti culture. Janamat Party chair CK Raut and other senior leaders participated in the event.

Simultaneously, Basantapur hosted a programme to mark the 12th National Dress and Topi Day with the slogan ‘Respect All Attire: Nepali Topi, Nepali Identity’. Youths gathered at the venue wearing traditional attire, including Dhaka topis, Bhaktapur-style topis, daura suruwal, and gunyo choli, celebrating with music and dance. Organised by Jagaruk Yuwa Abhiyan Nepal, the event aimed to promote the preservation of Nepali cultural dress.

Ghanshyam Shrestha, the campaign coordinator, emphasised the importance of recognising Dhaka topi and Bhaktapur topi as national symbols. He noted that these efforts began after traditional Nepali attire was removed from official recognition during Baburam Bhattarai’s premiership in early 2010s. Since then, January 1 has been annually celebrated as National Dress and Topi Day.

Both events reflected a shared aspiration to preserve Nepal’s cultural heritage and promote inclusivity through traditional attire.