INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, MARCH 31In a significant move Nepal's government has officially designated the legendary Yeti as the
guardian of the Himalayas and nominated it as the country's national symbol.
UN's secretary general warns the world is
becoming 'less safe by the day'
Coach Thomas Tuchel to leave Bayern Munich
at the end of the season
Consequent to this
decision, Yeti will assume the prime position in all of Nepal's branding both at home and abroad
An artistic interpretation of the mythical creature will also feature on new currency notes which are to be printed hereafter.The landmark
decision which takes effect today on signifies a departure from traditional wildlife emblems and underscores Nepal's commitment to
preserving its cultural heritage and natural wonders, highly placed Government sources told The Himalayan Times.
The
decision which attracted international attention was met with cautious interest from international organizations.The International Monetary
Fund (IMF)spokesman Lipra Loof stated, "While the IMF acknowledges Nepal's prerogative to select its national symbol, we encourage the
government to ensure that this decision does not detract from our recommendations on its broader economic and development goals, which
gravitate around privatizing all public services irrespective of public pain
We stand ready to support Nepal as it grapples with severe recessionary trends and this landmark decision will have salutary effect", she
added.Similarly, the World Bank spokesperson Rosemary Marlowe emphasized the need for balanced development strategies, with its spokesperson
remarking, "As Nepal moves forward with its national symbol designation, it is essential to maintain a focus on inclusive and equitable
development as defined by The World Bank's criteria and not Nepal's
Like always we know what is right for Nepal", she said.Echoing these sentiments, United Nations' Secretary-General's office underscored the
importance of cultural preservation and environmental conservation, stating, "The UN recognizes the cultural significance of the Yeti in
We encourage Nepal to leverage this designation to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism
and to continue justifying the UN's prolonged and sustained presence in Nepal, especially without any measurable impact."The sources pointed
out that the government has finalised plans to introduce new currency notes featuring artistic depictions of the Yeti alongside iconic
The design for these new banknotes will be finalised through a national competition wherein Nepali design professionals will present their
innovative takes on the mythical creature that has captured imaginations worldwide.Meanwhile a gender equity committee has been set up
jointly by the Nepal Rashtra Bank and the Fine Arts Academy of Nepal to agree on an unisex depiction of the Yeti that would also be
acceptable to the LGBTQI+ community of Nepal.Trasheet Nayaghare, a spokesman of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, emphasized the symbolic
significance of the Yeti, stating, "The designation of the Yeti as Nepal's national symbol is a testament to our country's rich cultural
heritage and natural diversity
By showcasing the Yeti on our currency, we celebrate the enduring spirit of the Himalayas and our commitment to preserving our natural
wonders for future generations."Foreign policy hawks in Nepal have applauded the decision too, highlighting that, unlike other national
symbols, the Yeti cannot be appropriated by any of its neighbours
Nepal's mission to the UN in Geneva has been reportedly instructed to file a Trademark claim on the Yeti with the World Intellectual
Property Organisation headquarters.The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has also expressed positive sentiments regarding Nepal's decision to
designate the Yeti as its national symbol
Their spokesperson reportedly said, "The WWF applauds Nepal's decision to honour the Yeti as its national symbol
By embracing the Yeti's status, Nepal has the potential to leverage its cultural heritage to promote wildlife conservation and sustainable
development.We look forward to raising funds to build a Yeti sanctuary in the high Himalayas, which will attract wealthy western kids as
interns and ensure a non-stop feed of selfies on social media."The decision has garnered widespread support within Nepal, with many viewing
it as a unique opportunity to finally acknowledge what most in the Himalayan nation have known all along- the Yeti is real
Enthusiasts have now begun asserting the claim that the logo of Nepal Airlines should also be changed to the Yeti
Observers say this demand, under popular pressure, may extend to all other governmental logos and brands.As Nepal embarks on this new
chapter in its cultural history, the designation of the Yeti as the national symbol represents a convergence of tradition and modernity
Clearly, the 'Guardian of the Himalayas' serves as a powerful reminder of Nepal's unique place in the world.(Disclaimer - Yeti national
symbol story)Expectedly we got you there! Continuing the two decade long tradition, we at The Himalayan Times, chose the legendary Yeti as
the subject for this year's April Fool joke
With due apologies to all those who have been quoted and not quoted including the government and international multi-lateral agencies, Happy
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com
