Kathmandu, February 18

The country will be celebrating the 68th National Democracy Day with much fanfare by organising various programmes tomorrow.

The National Democracy Day Celebration Main Organising Committee led by the prime minister is set to organise a special function at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel, to mark the day, which is a reminder of the advent of democracy and the abolition of 104 years of autocratic family Rana rule that ended 68 years ago.

The president, vice president, prime minister, chief justice, ministers, and chiefs of constitutional bodies and security agencies, among others, will attend the function.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, special celebration will also be held in all seven provinces and districts to mark the day. Chief ministers and chief of district coordination committees will lead the celebration in provinces and districts, respectively.

All metropolitan cities, sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities and rural municipalities have also been told to mark the day with special events and activities, said the ministry. After 1951, the day holds a special significance. The journey of development and consciousness for democracy is said to have started on February 19 that year.

On the occasion, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has extended greetings to all Nepali people living at home and abroad, wishing that this day would inspire them to adhere to the basic norms and values of democracy. She also paid tributes to all unknown and unknown martyrs who sacrificed their life for the country.

In her message, President Bhandari said the day reminded the people of the importance of renunciation and sacrifice for change. “Democracy is the best governance system in the world, as it makes people sovereign. Nepali people are now enjoying the federal democratic republic system as a result of the successful movements of 1951, 1990 and 2006 which aimed to restore and institutionalise democracy,” read the message. The government has announced holiday for tomorrow to celebrate the day.