DAMAULI: The 213th birth anniversary of Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya is being celebrated by organizing various programmes in Tanahu district.

The Bhanubhakta Birthplace Development Committee is making preparation to observe the Bhanu Jayanti, birth anniversary of a pioneering poet of Nepali language, for three days.

In this connection, a meeting was held on Monday under the chairmanship of mayor of Bhanu Municipality and chair of the Bhanu Birthplace Development Committee, Anand Raj Tripathi.

As per meeting decision, the local government would conduct programmes for three days- on Asad 27, 28 and 29 (July 11-13).

Committee’s executive secretary Kripahari Laudari informed that on the first day, the local government would conduct prayers at various places in veneration of the belief related to pioneering poet Bhanubhakta.

A Bhanubhakta Ramayana recitation competition and a special poetry symposium are scheduled for the second day. The events would be attended by noted writers and poets.

Laudari further shared that a morning procession would be held on Asad 29, the day poet Bhanubhakta was born. His statue would be garlanded and a special discussion on his personality and poetry held for the protection, promotion and publicity of the birthplace of Bhanubhakta.

Deputy mayor of Bhanu Municipality, Uma Gotame and chief administrative officer Suraj Shrestha viewed collective efforts were needed to develop the birthplace of the leading poet as a centre for national and international literary tourism.

Bhanubhakta Acharya was born on Asad 29, 1871 BS. He is known as a leading poet of the early period of Nepali literature. He translated Balmiki’s Ramayana from Sanskrit to Nepali language.

It was Motiram Bhatta conferring the title of ‘Adikavi’ (pioneering poet) of the Nepali language on Bhanubhakta. Bhanubhakta wrote various texts like Prasnottar, Bhaktamala and Badhushikshya.