Let's unite to protect national heritage: President Bhandari

President Bidyadevi Bhandari has appealed to work for the protection of national and cultural heritage. Inaugurating the newly constructed stadium in Matihani Municipality-7 of Mahottari today, President Bhandari urged all concerned to take initiative in the protection of the national heritage and glorious culture of the ancient sage Tapi and Sadhana Bhumi Mithilakshetra.

"State-2 is known as the abode of ancient Mithila scholars including Ashtavakra, Yajnavalkya, Gargi, Maitreyi and King Janak, Vidushi's sadhana and asceticism," said President Bhandari. She also discussed that the literature of the country has become rich with the sadhana of the great poet Vidyapati of Maithili language. President Bhandari also said that the sports sector would play an important role in the development and identity of the country.

She stated that the Matihani Municipality has done a timely job by constructing a huge stadium keeping this reality in mind. President Bhandari said she believes that regular practice in the new stadium would create national talents.

As the Terai region of the country is fertile ground for food production, President Bhandari said that the government at all three levels including local, state and central level should take initiative to increase the skills, technology and facilities required by the farmers for modern farming by increasing the use and practice of new technology in agriculture.

Speaking on the occasion, President Bhandari said that the Mithila region has a special place in the overall history of Nepal.

President Bhandari lauded the 'Daughter Insurance' and 'Save Daughter-Educate Daughter' programs launched by the state government to reduce this. "This initiative started by the state-2 government will help strengthen women's education and make them capable citizens," said Bhandari. With the change in the state of education, it is a matter of sorrow that anomalies and distortions such as child marriage, incestuous marriages, polygamy, dowry, tilak and witchcraft are still seen in the society, said the President. "Our efforts need to be focused on ending these," she said.

President Bhandari mentioned that the then Sanskrit Pathshala and the present state Sanskrit Secondary School established in Matihani 300 years ago have made significant contribution to spread the light of education in the country. Bhandari said that it was the responsibility of all to contribute to the timely improvement and development of the school.

She mentioned that her glorious past can be seen and understood only if she takes initiative in the protection and consolidation of Matihani's religious heritage Laxminarayan Math, Laxminarayan Temple, Tashmaiya Baba's Khanti, Pir Baba Shrine, Laxmisagar and nearby Jaleshwar Nath Mahadev Temple.

As life in the Terai is inextricably linked with the Chure Mountains, President Bhandari has said that proper attention needs to be paid to the conservation of the Chure. Stating that the prosperity of the Terai is not possible without the protection of the Chure, President Bhandari said, "The conservation of the Chure and the prosperity of the Terai are complementary to each other." For this, it is necessary to manage the river system by discouraging the exploitation of Chure, she said.

Matihani Municipality MP, Chanda Chaudhary and Mahottari Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented gifts of Mithila art and culture to President Bhandari at the ceremony.

On the occasion, Matihani Mayor Hari Prasad Mandal handed over a congratulatory letter to the President. At the ceremony, President Bhandari presented certificates of appreciation to Bimalesh Sah, Binod Mandal and Naresh Mahato of Matihani for their tireless contribution in the construction of the stadium. At the inauguration ceremony presided over by Matihani Municipality Chief Hari Prasad Mandal, Chief Minister of State II Lal Babu Raut, MP and National Chairman of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal Mahanta Thakur and Chief of District Coordination Committee Mahottari Suresh Prasad Singh spoke.

After inaugurating the stadium, built on a 19-katha area at a cost of Rs 30 million, President Bhandari observed the 500-year-old Laxminarayan Math at Matihani, visited the Laxminarayan Temple and the shrine of Saint Tashmaiya Baba. Similarly, President Bhandari inspected the 303-year-old Government Sanskrit Secondary School.

The students recited Rudrabhishek to the President who visited the school. On the occasion, Principal Ishwori Prasad Poudel briefed the President about the physical and educational condition of the school.

After the Matihani program, President Bhandari paid obeisance to Shri Jaleshwar Nath Mahadev at Jaleshwar. There, Jaleshwar Mayor Ram Shankar Mishra, people's representatives, civil servants and industrialists welcomed the President.