KATHMANDU, MAY 31

The State of New York has officially proclaimed May 29 as Mount Everest Day, in conjunction with the observance of international Mount Everest Day.

The State Assembly endorsed a resolution tabled by New York State Assembly woman Jenifer Rajkumar along with other assembly members proclaiming May 29, 2022, as Mount Everest Day in the State of New York, Passang Nima Sherpa, President of the US Nepal Climbers Association Inc, said.

'It is the sense of this Legislative Body to support and promote the historic and significant observance of Mount Everest Day in New York State; and attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 29, 2022, as Mount Everest Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of international Mount Everest Day,' the resolution reads.

Mount Everest Day commemorates the anniversary of the first confirmed summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa on May 29, 1953; and summiting Mount Everest is generally considered one of the greatest achievements in life, with over 10,000 successful summits by more than 6,000 people.

The State Assembly also notes that the entire world honors the more than 300 brave climbers who lost their lives attempting to summit the mountain. 'A UNESCO World Heritage site, Mount Everest is one of the most iconic and well known geological sites in the world, attracting thousands of visitors and hundreds of climbers most years, and serving as a source of pride and engine of economic growth for Nepal.'

The Sherpa people, who trace their origins to the Mount Everest region, and count among them elite mountaineers, constitute a thriving community in New York City, where thousands reside, predominantly in Queens, and contribute to the vitality of the city, which honored the community by co-naming a street in Jackson Heights as Mount Everest Way; and among the outstanding achievements of the Sherpa community in New York is the US Nepal Climbers Association Inc., under the leadership of President Passang Nima Sherpa, which engages in advocacy and education on sustainable mountaineering around the world, and supports the welfare of the Sherpa people in Nepal, according to the resolution.

The Assembly also notes that Mount Everest and its environs face conservation threats including accumulation of waste on the mountain, habitat destruction to develop tourism infrastructure, deforestation, and snow and ice receding due to climate change; and It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious environmental issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, state, national and international levels.

'This Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 29, 2022, as Mount Everest Day in the State of New York; and be it further, that copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Consul General of Nepal and the US Nepal Climbers Association Inc.'

Passang Nima termed that it's a historic achievement and USNCA looks forward to working together in the days to come and achieve many more historic deeds for our country Nepal and make friendly relations stronger with the United States of America.

Honouring Jenifer Rajkumar's contribution towards Nepali community, two Sherpa climbers took her sign to the summit of Everest this spring season. Her sign was taken there by Kami Rita Sherpa, Guinness Book of world record holder having summited Everest 26 times and Ang Tshering Lama, who scaled Everest 5 times.