अर्थ प्रणाली 
Kathmandu. The 52nd Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) Day has been celebrated today at the NMA Secretariat in Nagpokhari, Naxal, Kathmandu, with a variety of activities.
During the event, three climbers and journalists were honored with various prestigious awards. The Chief Guest, Mr. Ramkrishna Lamichhane, the newly appointed Director General (DG) of the Department of Tourism (DoT), along with NMA President Mr. Fur Gelje Sherpa, hoisted the flags of Nepal and NMA and cut the celebration cake.
Mr. Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, who made history by climbing all 14 peaks above 8000 meters without using a down feather outfit, received the Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah Adventure Award. Mr. Siddhi Bahadur Tamang, who set the world record for summiting Mount K2–the second highest peak in the world–six times, was presented with the Dr. Harka Gurung Mountaineering Award.
Additionally, Sub Inspector Ms. Kunjang Tshopel Sherpa of the Nepal Police, who became the first female officer in Nepal to summit Mount Everest, was honored with the Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Adventurous Women Mountaineer Award. All awardees were presented with gold-plated medals.
Journalists Mr. Suraj Kunwar and Mr. Pawan Phuyal were awarded the Dawa Norbu Mountain Journalism Award, each receiving a cash prize of 20,000 rupees.
NMA’s Account Assistant Ms. Pramila Sigdel was recognized as the best staff for the fiscal year 2081/082, receiving a 10,000 rupee cash prize.
The NMA has been honoring record-holding climbers, mountain tourism related organizations, journalists, and staff each year on its anniversary with awards named after notable figures in the organization.
Before the awards ceremony, Chief Guest DG Lamichhane officially inaugurated the event by watering a plant. In his address, DG Lamichhane expressed his full support for NMA and its efforts to advance Nepal’s mountain tourism. He also suggested that organizations like NMA should be granted legal status as government offices.
“I am fully aware of the NMA’s contributions to Nepal’s mountain tourism,” said DG Lamichhane. “Promotion of Nepal’s mountain tourism is impossible without the NMA’s support. I will personally work towards ensuring that NMA gets the legal status of a government organization during the amendment of the Tourism Act.”
NMA President Sherpa shared plans approved by the 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM). “To prevent our youth from seeking jobs abroad and to make mountain tourism more sustainable, we plan to establish an Adventure Tourism University in Nepal. We will also revive NMA’s Basic and Advanced Mountaineering Training, along with Professional Mountain Guides and Professional Mountain Leader training. Additionally, we will organize rescue training in mountain regions to empower local communities,” Sherpa said. “We seek support from all tourism related organizations, including DoT, and hope to create synergies among tourism-related entities.”
Mr. Damber Parajuli, President of the Expedition Operators’ Association Nepal (EOA-Nepal) and Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), expressed his willingness to partner with NMA for the development of Nepal’s tourism industry.
The 52nd NMA Day was attended by various government officials, NMA members, former executive committee members, current executive board members, and media representatives.
