On the occasion of its 67th foundation day, Pokhara Metropolitan City has honored nine personalities who have made outstanding contributions in various fields with the 'Pokhareli Navaratna Samman-2082'. On the occasion of the main ceremony of the foundation day on Wednesday, the metropolis honored them with Rs 202,200 each, a medal and a copper plaque.

The recipients of the Navratna award include singer Amrit Gurung of the Nepathya band, senior writer Tirtha Shrestha, and Dr. Buddhi Bahadur Thapa from the health sector. Tilakman Gubhaju from the journalism sector, Ramkali Khadka from women's entrepreneurship and empowerment, and Chandrakant Baral, the visionary and industrialist of the construction of the statue of Vishal Mahadev in Pumdikot, have also been awarded the Navratna award. The metropolis has awarded the Navratna award to Birendra Singh Gurung for his contribution to the sports and education sectors, Chandra Krishna Karmacharya from social service and entrepreneurship, and Hari Pandey from the education and industry sectors. Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey, Metropolitan Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, and selection committee coordinator artist Durga Baral 'Vatsyayan' among others. Birendra Singh Gurung could not attend the award ceremony as he is in the US for treatment.

The metropolis has institutionalized this honor, which has been suspended for the past 23 years, by creating a new procedure. Pokhareli Navratna Samman was first started in 2055 under the initiative of the then Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Krishna Thapa. For the first time, Keshavraj Parajuli, Jhalakman Gandharva, Kya. Min Bahadur Gurung, Jhalak Thapa, Buddhi Bahadur Shrestha, Amrit Prasad Sherchan, Dr. Kumar Shamsher Rana, Dr. Bhuwan Ratna Sthapit and Ali Miya were honored. For the second time, in 2059, this honor was presented to Haridhwaj Tulachan, Hem Bahadur Pradhan, Ranjit Gurung, Sapana Malla, Durga Baral, George John, Krishna Prasad Shrestha, Dharmaraj Thapa and Pragya Ratna Bajracharya.

In 2072, the metropolis honored linguist Mukunda Sharan Upadhyay, litterateur Sarubhakta and folk singer Hari Devi Koirala as Pokhara Ratna. At the ceremony to declare Pokhara as the tourism capital of Nepal, Dr. Harka Gurung and musician Prem Prakash Malla were posthumously awarded the Special Contribution Award and litterateur Mukunda Sharan Upadhyay were awarded the Special Contribution Award for their contribution to tourism promotion.

Pokhara Metropolitan City has prepared and implemented the Pokhareli Navratna Award Procedure-2082 as per Section 102 of the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 BS. The procedure was published in the local gazette on 25 Mangsir. According to Dipendra Shrestha, a member of the selection committee, only those who have a permanent address in Pokhara Metropolitan City and whose name is on the voter list within the metropolis are considered eligible for the award. The award requires that the person should not have been convicted of any criminal offense, have high moral character, reside in Pokhara and have demonstrated talent in the local, national and international arenas, and enhance the identity of Pokhara.

As per the decision of the municipal executive, a selection committee was formed under the coordination of former respected artist Durga Baral 'Vatsyayan'. Other members of the committee included writer and scholar Bishwa Sigdel, academic Nita Tamrakar, journalist Dipendra Shrestha and Chief Administrative Officer of the Metropolitan City Muktiram Aryal. The names selected and recommended by the committee in a manner that was inclusive of various disciplines were approved by the municipal executive meeting held on 1 Poush.

Pokhara Metropolitan City had previously been celebrating its foundation day on 27 Falgun. However, according to the material published in Nepal Gazette Part 4 found at the house of Pokhara Municipality's founding ward chairman Ramesh Sigdel, Pokhara Municipality was established on 2 Poush 2016, so for the first time, the foundation day was celebrated on the actual foundation date, said Metropolitan City Mayor Acharya.

He informed that according to the policy and program passed by the Municipal Assembly and the Pokhareli Navratna Honor Procedure-2082, this honor will be awarded once in every elected term, i.e. once in five years from now on. He said, ‘The Metropolitan City aims to develop this honor as the highest honor of the municipality and establish it as an important and glorious decoration like the former Gorkha Dakshinbahu or the current ‘Nepal Ratna’.’

The metropolis celebrated its foundation day for three days. The metropolis honored 107-year-old Jhyauri Timilsina of Pokhara-28 Arupata as the Metropolitan Mother and 104-year-old Kashinath Pandit of Pokhara-29 as the Metropolitan Father on Wednesday. The metropolis has also awarded outstanding employees, outstanding taxpayers, teachers, students, schools, and wards.