KATHMANDU: On the occasion of Bhanu Jayanti, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the new generation should follow the ideals of pioneer poet and national luminary Bhanubhakta Acharya.

The prime minister stated this at a concluding programme, following morning procession, organised to mark the 205th birth anniversary of Acharya in the capital today.

PM Oli further said that Aadikavi (first poet of Nepali literature) Acharya had contributed much to unite linguistic and cultural diversity of the country through Nepali language, as reported by Rastriya Samachar Samiti.

Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Ishwar Pokhrel feted literary figures and released a book 'Sanskritik Asmitaka Prateek: Tulasi Das ra Bhanubkahta' (Symbol of Cultural Dignity: Tulasi Das and Bhanubhakta), during the programme.

The book, published by Ananda Publications in Kolkata, India, was translated into Nepali by Rajendra Prasad Upadhyaya Dhakal.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari also praised Bhanubhakta Acharya for his contribution in making Nepali language popular through his literary creations.

Speaking in the same programme, Nepal Academy Chancellor Ganga Prasad Upreti opined that modern Nepal's unifier Prithvi Narayan Shah and pioneer poet Bhanubhakta Acharya should be respected by all.

Likewise, Bhanu Pratisthan chair Prof Brataraj Acharya stressed on developing the birth place of Bhanubhakta as a literary pilgrimage.