By India Blooms News Service Jul 16, 2023
The 209th Bhanu Jayanti was celebrated in memory of the prominent Nepali literati, Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, who was responsible for translating Ramayana from Sanskrit to Nepali, in Sikkim on Thursday. Considered as Adi Kavi or the first poet of Nepali language, the birth anniversary is celebrated as a festival in Sikkim.
The festival in Gangtok was divided into halves. At the event at Bhanu Udhyan in Bhanu path, Bhanu Bhakta Acharyas statue was garlanded by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay, among others, stated EastMojo.
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya highlighted the unwavering dedication and perseverance of Bhanu Bhakta Acharya towards the Nepali language. He stated, Bhanu Jayanti is not merely a program but a platform to showcase the diverse literary, artistic, and cultural aspects of our society.
The significance of being rooted in ones heritage and taking pride in it. The youth need to embrace technology while coexisting with our existing legacy and heritage, they must carry it forward for the betterment of our society and nation. A nation prospers when its youth are empowered and strong.
The Governor extended his congratulations to the recipient of the Bhasa Sewa Saman award and commended the organizing committee for successfully hosting the event.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay highlighted the importance of the day at a time when Sikkim recently fought back the immigrant tag upon Sikkimese Nepali earlier this year after a Supreme Court judgement, reported EastMojo.
He stated, The festival this year holds more importance, as we have successfully fought back the immigrant tag earlier this year. Its a recognition that was long needed for all Nepali communities in Sikkim as well as for those beyond the State.
Highlighting the APATAN fellowship scheme, a flagship initiative of the Golay-led Sikkim government, the Chief Minister stated, Our government is consistently supporting poets and litterateurs to publish their novels and poems.
Similarly, we have also initiated the APATAN fellowship scheme, a scholarship programme which can be availed by individuals who aspire to pursue PhD in local languages, including Hindi, he further stated.