KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari attended the celebration of Tamu Lhosar festival in the federal capital on Tuesday.

President Bhandari attended the special function organized to mark the festival at Tundikhel, Kathmandu.

Gurung community marks the Tamu Lhosar festival as a new year. Various twelve animals and birds are given name every year in rotation. The special function was organized by the Tamu Lyu Dhi Gurung National Council.

The President observed the cultural pageants performed by the Gurung communities who came to Kathmandu from various parts of the country. On the occasion, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizen, Parbat Gurung, said cooperation from all ethnic communities was imperative to further cement the national unity.

Similarly, Vice-Chairman of Indigenous People’s Upliftment National Foundation, Chandra Bahadur Gurung, reminded that it was a common demand that government provided festival holidays to 59 ethnic communities in Nepal.

He expressed worry over budget cuts for three years. Chairman of the Gurung National Council, Resham Gurung, expressed serious concern that no significant change was made in the Republic except the installation of President in place of the King.

He also vented ire on government that it removed five government holidays given earlier to different ethnic communities.

Chairman of Nepal Indigenous Nationalities’ Federation, Jagat Baram, demanded the Tamu Lhosar be declared the national festival. Even a cultural exhibition was held as part of the celebration. There are more than 150 stalls in the exhibition.