International Everest Day is annually celebrated on 29th May to commemorate the first-ever summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal on 29th May 1953.
Background:
On 29th May 1953, New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay reached the 29,035-foot summit of Mt Everest and became the first people to summit the world’s highest mountain.
- This marked a significant achievement in the field of mountaineering and opened up new possibilities for future expeditions.
Significance:
i.The day also highlights the unique opportunity to promote Nepal’s tourism.
ii.The day also promotes awareness about the need for responsible mountaineering and environmental conservation in the region.
iii.The day also offers a time to remember the dangers of climbing the mountain and to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the attempt
About Mt Everest:
i.Mount Everest is a peak in the Himalayan mountain range, which signifies that Mt. Everest is a fold mountain.
ii.It is located between Nepal and Tibet, an autonomous region of China.
At 8,848.86 meters (29,031 Feet), it is considered the tallest point on Earth.
Name of Mt Everest:
i.In the 19th century, the mountain was named after George Everest, a former Surveyor General of India.
ii.The Tibetan name of the peak is Chomolungma, which means “Mother Goddess of the World”.
iii.In Nepal, the peak is known as “Sagarmatha” which means “Goddess of the Sky”.
Details of first Mt Everest Summit:
Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary scaled Mt Everest as a part of the 9th British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt.
Edmund Hillary and Jonh Hunt were knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and Norgay was honoured with the George Medal, a civilian medal of bravery.
Tenzing Norgay was also honoured with the Nepal Government’s Order of the Star of Nepal, 1st Class (Supradipta-Manyabara-Nepal-Tara), one of the most prestigious medals awarded by the government.
Noted Mt Everest Records:
i.First woman to summit – Junko Tabei of Japan 1975
ii.First Indian Woman to Summit – Bachendri Pal – 1984
iii.First Indian Man to Summit Twice- Nawang Gombu (1963 & 1965)
iv.First Indian Woman to Summit Twice – Santosh Yadav (1992 and 1993)
v.Youngest Indian & Youngest female to summit – Malavath Poorna (2014) (13 years & 11 months old)
