KATHMANDU: Celebrating the occasion of Kojagrat Purnima, the Nepali Congress (NC) kicked off a warm gathering for greetings and a delightful tea party at the party’s central office in Sanepa, Lalitpur.

Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, alongside other officials and central members, extended a cordial welcome to the visiting guests who graced the event.

The exchange of greetings and the tea party program, which commenced recently, is set to continue until 5 pm.

The Nepali Congress has a tradition of hosting a tea party on Kojagrat Purnima, commemorating various festivals such as Badadashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat, and Chhath.

For this special occasion, the Nepali Congress has extended invitations to leaders of political parties, ministers, parliamentarians, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Nepal, and distinguished individuals from various sectors of society to partake in the tea ceremony.

This annual tradition, initiated in 1977, had its origins when then NC President BP Koirala, upon his return to the country on December 30, 1976, adopted a policy of national unity and reconciliation. It was initially led by Koirala until 1981. Subsequently, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Girija Prasad Koirala, Sushil Koirala, and now NC President Deuba have continued to host this cherished tea ceremony each year on the occasion of Badadashain.