POKHARA: Gandaki Chief Prithviman Gurung has expressed his best wishes to all the people of the province on the occasion of Rakshabandhan, Rishitarpani and Janai Poornima.

In a message today, he has wished happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and continued progress to all the brothers and sisters of the province on the occasion of Shravan Shukla Poornima.

Chief Gurung said the importance of this festival has increased as it is celebrated not only by the Tagadhari community but also by different communities. He expressed the confidence that such festivals would deepen mutual harmony by maintaining social, cultural and ethnic unity in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-cultural country like Nepal.

He has also called for sincere efforts of all the citizens in following the health standards while celebrating the festival, considering the Corona Virus pandemic. Best Wishes from Chief Minister Pokharel In a similar message, Chief Minister Krishnachandra Nepali Pokhrel has said that preservation of religion, culture and tradition is necessary for cultural prosperity.

He said it was the responsibility of all to awaken invaluable treasures such as religion, culture and tradition. “Our country, rich in diverse religions and cultures, is an example of religious tolerance.

Celebrating the same day in a different way according to the particular community is also the strongest example of religious tolerance,” he said while referring to the festival being also observed by the Newari community as Gunpunhi.

Stating that the risk of COVID-19 is still there, he has requested all the people of the province to celebrate the festival by adopting awareness the prescribed health standards