By Binaj Gurubacharya

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – Nepal’s government on Monday honored record-holder climbers at a celebration of the first ascent of Mount Everest 70 years ago.

Hundreds of people from the mountaineering community, Sherpa guides and officials attended a rally in Kathmandu to mark the anniversary. Participants waved celebratory flags and walked through central Kathmandu to the music of a military band.

Honored honorees include Sherpa guide Kami Rita, who climbed the world’s highest peak twice this season, setting a record 28 times, and Sanu Sherpa, who climbed all 14 of the world’s highest peaks twice. included.

Hari Buda Magar, the first above-knee amputee to successfully climb Mount Everest, was also honored by the country’s Minister of Tourism Susila Shilpari Thakuri.

“May 29th will always be a day we will all remember and be proud of the day Edmund Hillary and Tenzing (Norgay) Sherpa climbed Mount Everest, the day Sherpa became known. Yes,’ said Sanu Sherpa.

Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit on May 29, 1953. After Hillary’s death in 2008, Nepal began celebrating the anniversary as Everest Day.

Since its summit, thousands have climbed the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak, and hundreds have died on the unpredictable slopes.

Hundreds of climbers and their guides climbed the summit during the 2023 climbing season, with 17 dead or missing.

The popular Himalayan climbing season begins in March and ends in May, but after that monsoon winds and rains and melting temperatures make the mountains too dangerous to climb.