Kathmandu: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation distributed various national and provincial awards on Wednesday, acknowledging outstanding contributions across different fields. Each recipient of the national award received a cash prize of Rs 100,000.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the National Talent Award in the field of language and literature was awarded to Amrit Yonzan Tamang from Ramechhap. Other recipients include Dr. Som Bahadur Dhimal from Morang for culture, Rajendra Bahadur Shah from Bajura for music and theatre, and Mukesh Malla from Kathmandu for fine arts.
Provincial awards were also given in several categories. In language and literature, recipients include Bimala Tumkhewa from Koshi Province, Shyam Sundar Shah from Madhesh Province, and others from various provinces. In the cultural field, awardees include Kamal Jung Rai from Koshi Province and several others from different regions. Music and drama provincial award winners include Bipin Paudel from Koshi Province and more.
The provincial talent awards were presented to individuals such as Himmat Bahadur Limbu from Koshi and others from across different provinces. Additionally, five individuals received the Mahakavi Devkota National Award, each carrying a purse of Rs 100,000. Recipients include Tirtha Shrestha for poetry and Lakshman Gautam for essays, among others.
The Ministry also honored writer Ram Prasad Ghyawali with the Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya National Award, while Bharat Bahadur Bhandari received the Gopal Prasad Rimal National Award. Kiran Chamling Rai was awarded in the drama category, each receiving Rs 100,000.
The Yogmaya National Award was given to Neelam Karki Niharika, while the Bhagatsarvajit Manav Maryada Award went to Man Bahadur Bishwakarma and Bhim Kant Panthi. The Yugakavi Siddhicharan Shrestha National Award was conferred on Devi Prasad Nepal, each with a Rs 100,000 prize.
Moreover, the Itihas Shironmani Baburam Acharya National Award, with a Rs 200,000 prize, was awarded to British citizen John Whelpton for his historical research in Nepal. Bina Paudel received the Shatabdi Purush Satyamohan Joshi National Award.
Minister for Culture Badri Prasda Pandey presented the awards at a ceremony held in Kathmandu.