Kathmandu, March 4

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today attended a special function held at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel to mark the Nepali Army Day.

President Bhandari, who is also the Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Nepali Army, garlanded the ‘Brave Soldier’ monument at Tudinkhel and received the guard of honour.

Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara and National Assembly Chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina and heads of constitutional bodies, among others, were present at the function.

Similarly, ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, chiefs of various parliamentary thematic committees, lawmakers, officials of constitutional bodies, high-ranking government officials, chiefs of security bodies, heads and representatives of Nepal-based foreign diplomatic missions, and distinguished persons from various walks of life also attended the function.

The NA has been celebrating Army Day since 1990 coinciding with Mahashivaratri festival.

On the occasion, a banner was displayed from a helicopter and the NA presented various parades as well as the Mahashivaratri Badhain, march-pasts and other various programmes related to the NA. Similarly, various groups also took out different cultural processions in the event.

The army also exhibited different types of vehicles and arms and ammunition it has been using on the occasion.

A large number of people had flocked around Tundikhel to watch the special programme organised on the occasion of the Mahashivaratri and Army Day.