Regional/Cultural Day
Sagarmatha Diwas
The anniversary of the first ascent of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953. The day honors the Sherpa climbers who have made Everest expeditions possible, and commemorates those who have died on the mountain. Ceremonies are held at the Everest Base Camp and in Kathmandu, and the families of Sherpa guides lay wreaths at memorial monuments. Sagarmatha, meaning "goddess of the sky" in Nepali, is the highest point on Earth at 8,848.86 meters, and the Sherpa people have been the backbone of every expedition since the first ascent. The day also highlights the environmental crisis caused by climbing waste and the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers.