Kathmandu: Experts and activists have called for recognizing Vishwakarma Jayanti as workers day in Nepal. Vishwakarma Jayanti, also called Vishwakarma Puja, is an important Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Vishwakarma, the divine architect and craftsman, which was observed in Nepal and India on Tuesday.
Speaking at the discussion program organized by National Unity Campaign in Kathmandu, they shed light on cultural importance of the festival and its link with the workers. Arun Kumar Subedi, foreign affairs advisor to former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that Hindu tradition accords immense importance to the workers and laborers. “Lord Vishwakarma is the symbol of workers and in this sense the worship of Lord Vishwakarma is the worship of the workers and laborers,” he said. “We started to celebrate May Day as workers’ day due to the Western cultural encroachment on Hindu culture. We need to change this and celebrate workers’ day based on our own Hindu tradition and culture.”
BP Yadav, senior leader of the Campaign, pointed out the need to understand cultural significance of Vishwakarma Puja. Binaya Yadav, the president of the Campaign, expressed the commitment to continue the tradition of celebrating Vishwakarma Puja as the day to pay respect to the workers and laborers in the days to come.
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