Kathmandu, July 13:

The 194th birth anniversary of pioneer Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya was celebrated with much fanfare today.

Litterateurs, students, teachers gathered at a function jointly organised by Bhanu Foundation

and Nepali Education Council (NEC) this morning at Durbar High School and paid tribute to late Bhanubhakta by offering flowers and garlands to Bhanubhakta’s statue there.

Earlier, the participants had taken out a procession from Ranipokhari, which went through Nepal Academy, Putalisadak, Bagbazaar and Ratna Park and ended at Ranipokhari.

In a separate function organised by the NEC, litterateur Bhanubhakta Pokharel was awarded with the Aadi kabi Bhanubhakta Puraskar.

Celebration of Bhanu Jayanti is not just confined in the country. Nepalis residing in different countries observed the day as an important event.

Nepalis living in Darjeeling, Assam, Deharadun, Sikkim of India and even in the US celebrated the pioneer poet’s birth anniversary.

“Celebration of the Bhanu Jayanti extends beyond people of any caste, class or geographical boundary. This unites the Nepali speaking community into one,” said Shree Bhadra Sharma, president of Bhanu Foundation. “Bhanubhakta paved the way for Nepali language and literature and established a landmark in the history of Nepal.”