Kathmandu, Jan. 26: Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal joined celebrations marking India’s 74th Republic Day at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Addressing the programme, India’s Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, highlighted age-old friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. He recalled the high-level exchanges including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lumbini, the birth-place of Lord Buddha, in May last year and then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to New Delhi in April of the same year. “These visits were instrumental in further strengthening our friendship. The top leadership of the two countries are committed to take forward our ongoing cooperation,” he said.

Top political figures including Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, government secretaries, lawmakers, civil society members, businessmen, Indian diaspora in Nepal, and journalists attended the reception. The programme included a cultural performance.

Earlier today morning, India honoured widows and next of kin of deceased Gorkha soldiers of Indian Armed Forces on the occasion of 74th Republic Day of India. Ambassador Srivastava felicitated war widows and next of kins of deceased soldiers by disbursing their dues of Nepali rupees 4.60 crore and blankets.

Reiterating its commitment to helping the retired soldiers, the Indian embassy unveiled the “Bhu Puu-2022” magazine covering the welfare initiatives of the Government of India for ex- Gorkha servicemen domiciled in Nepal.

The celebrations  began  with unfurling  of  the  Indian national flag  by  Ambassador Srivastava. The envoy recited the address to the nation from President of India Droupadi Murmu.

In her speech, President Murmu noted the encouraging progress made by India, on the economic front to achieve Gandhiji’s ideal of ‘Sarvodaya’ or the upliftment of all, despite global economic uncertainties. The message also underscored that India’s Presidency of the G20 is an opportunity to promote democracy and multilateralism for shaping a better world and a better future.

On the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava also presented books to various institutions. The embassy is gifting books worth Nepali rupees 1.6 million to 23 institutions of Nepal, the embassy said in a press statement.

The celebrations witnessed renditions of patriotic songs and performances by students of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy and Kendriya Vidyalaya School, Kathmandu.