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Posted By admin on June 2, 2022

It's been 69 years since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquered Mount Everest, and the Nepali community in Auckland came out in force to celebrate.

There was food, dance performances, auction andspeeches by dignitaries including Sir Edmund's son, Peter Hillary, Auckland mayor Phil Goff and Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon.

Addressing the more than 300 crowd at Fickling Centre in Three Kings, Hillary paid tribute to theNew Zealand-Nepal partnership that conquered the world's highest peak in 1953.

Arvind Kumar

Nepali dancers perform at Everest Day celebrations in Auckland.

READ MORE:*Everest Day celebration plans reach new heights for 69th anniversary*Sir Ed Hillary's grandsons planning to conquer Everest together*Tenzing Norgay's sons visit mountain training ground*Sir Edmund Hillary's legacy lives on in Nepal*Sir Edmund Hillary's legacy lives on in Nepal on the eve of his 100th birthday

"So often in life we hear just one name, one person achieved,but the great thing about the first ascent of Mount Everest was that it was Hillary and Tenzing, that great partnership, and when they got to the top of Mount Everest, they literally put New Zealand on the map, and Nepal too," he said.

Hillary, who is also chair of the Himalayan Trust set up by his father, said it was important for New Zealanders to be aware of the strong bond between the two countries united by one great achievement.

Arvind Kumar

Dignitaries and part of the crowd at Everest Day celebrations in Auckland.

While Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Bay of Plenty marked the event on May 29, a bigger celebration will take place in Wellingtonon Tuesday, May 31, at Parliament.

This was the first time Everest day was being celebrated in six cities across the country as the Nepali community gearedup for the 70th anniversary celebration next year.

Hillary had said earlier that while this year's celebrations had been escalated by the organisers, next year's Everest Day would be on an even bigger scale with international events planned in Kathmandu, New Delhi, London and New York.

Arvind Kumar

Auckland mayor Phil Goff addreesses attendees at the 69th Everest Day celebrations.

As part of the fundraising drive by the Himalayan Trust, two different campaignshave been running at each celebration city in a bid to raise $150,000 to fund school projects in Nepal.

The first is an auction of a portrait of Sir Ed and Norgay called "A Moment in History", signed by Sir Ed and the artist Craig Primrose. There's also a $5 note signed by Sir Ed up for auction.

The second campaign is "Give a Fiver for Ed" where a $5 note (or more) can be donated towards the Himalayan Trust. Visithimalayantrust.orgfor details or email nrnanzinc@gmail.com

Read more here:

Nepali diaspora marks 69th Everest Day with celebrations around the country - Stuff

Category: Diaspora
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