Annapurna Climbing Day celebrated with marathon and cultural events in Myagdi

In Narchyang, Myagdi, the 76th Annapurna Climbing Day was celebrated on Wednesday with various programs. The event took place in Narchyang, Annapurna Rural Municipality–4, which is the route and base camp for climbing the 8,091-meter-high Annapurna mountain.

The day was marked with an open marathon from the Annapurna Base Camp, located at an altitude of 4,190 meters, to Narchyang. There were also trekking activities, and individuals and organizations contributing to the development and promotion of the Maurice Herzog trail, connecting climbers and the base camp, were honored. Cultural programs were also part of the celebration. Three years after Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal’s team from France first summited Annapurna on June 3, 1950, the world’s highest peak, Everest, was successfully climbed.

Annapurna is known as the first mountain over 8,000 meters to be climbed by humans. According to the Department of Tourism’s records, Annapurna is considered risky for climbing, with 572 people having summited it over 76 years. Annapurna Climbing Day is celebrated in memory of the day that marked the beginning of the development of Nepal’s tourism sector and mountaineering, making the mountains known worldwide, said Annapurna Rural Municipality Chairperson Indra Kumar Pun.

On the occasion, the second Annapurna Herzog Marathon, with a prize of NPR 125,000, was held over a distance of 31.6 kilometers. Ramesh Limbu from Taplejung won in the men’s category, while Sunsari Roka from Dolpa won in the women’s category.

The competition, supported technically by the Athletics Association Gandaki and the Nepal Former Players Forum, saw participation from nine women and 12 men, according to Ward Chairperson Lok Bahadur Phagami of Annapurna Rural Municipality–4.

Limbu completed the distance in two hours and four minutes, while Roka finished in two hours, 47 minutes, and 16 seconds to claim the title. In the men’s category, Man Kumar Roka from Kathmandu finished second in two hours, 16 minutes, and 11 seconds, and Arjun Kuling from Solukhumbu finished third in two hours, 23 minutes, and 12 seconds. In the women’s category, Pushpa Sherma from Panchthar finished second in two hours, 52 minutes, and seven seconds, while Nirmala Rai from Khotang finished third in two hours, 53 minutes, and 30 seconds.

Additionally, consolation prizes were awarded to Lokendra Rai (Solukhumbu), Homlal Shrestha (Ramechhap), Sanam Gurung (Tanahun) in the men’s category, and Sandebha Budha (Jumla), Ashma Bik (Rolpa), Bhimu Budha (Jumla) in the women’s category. The winners received NPR 125,000, the runners-up received NPR 75,000, and the third-place finishers received NPR 43,750, along with certificates. Consolation prize winners received NPR 12,500 each.

Chhangwa Sherpa, who has climbed Annapurna three times, and female climber Maya Sherpa were honored. Tej Bahadur Gurung, who identified the Maurice Herzog trail, rescuer Indra Singh Sherchan, map preparer Chitra Bahadur Tilija, and the Federation of Nepali Journalists and journalist Ganesh Gurung (Suren) for their contributions to promotion, were also honored.

In 2068 BS, under the leadership of Tej Gurung from Narchyang, the facts and trail of Annapurna and its base camp in Myagdi were identified. The Annapurna Rural Municipality mapped and named the trail ‘Maurice Herzog’ in 2077 BS. On the occasion, traditional dances were performed by local artists, according to Ward Member Shyam Purja.