By Our Reporter
Commemorating the historic unification campaign of Nepal by the Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Nepal Army is organising the unification march this year as well.
History has it that King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s conquest of Kathmandu started from Gorkha moving along Dhading and Nuwakot.
On Tuesday morning, the march was set afoot at Gorkha – the starting point of the unification campaign as a band of army officials left for Kathmandu – the endpoint of the Unification Trail. “To preserve our history, and ignite a feeling of unity among us Nepalis, we have initiated this concept,” said Binay Bikram Rana, Major General of Nepal Army’s West Division Headquarters. “The trail will also be helpful in reviving historical tourism in the country,” he added.
In a special ceremony held at Hanuman Chautari inside the Gorkha Durbar premises, the personnel participating in the walk were bade adieu amidst humongous uproar of panchebaja.
The team of 40 individuals left for Kathmandu carrying torch, the National Flag as well as flags of five companies of the Nepali Army established back in the time of King Prithvi Narayan Shah (Shreenath, Kalibaks, Purano Gorakh, Bardabani and Sabud Battalion), informed Ujjwal KC, Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Head of Ranasingh Dal Battalion, Gorkha. The army squad will also include personnel dressed in traditional army costumes from the time of unification.
Rajanraj Pant, Mayor of Gorkha Municipality, during the farewell ceremony said, “History can’t be wiped out, which is why we should honour and preserve it,” he said lauding the march. “Gorkha Municipality will always be keen on helping promote such activities like unification march.”
The team will march from Gorkha to Dhading border and will hand over the army flag and torch to the Dhading-based Devidutta Battalion and the Dhading-based army battalion will carry the flags and torches from Dhading to the Nuwakot border.
Similarly, the army battalion in Nuwakot will hand over the flags and torches to the army in Kathmandu. He said that the trek will reach Kathmandu on Poush 27.
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