By Bishnu Prasad Pokharel
Jhapa, Nov. 11: The 137th birth anniversary of Nepal's 16th national luminary and social reformer Mahaguru Phalgunand Lingden is being marked in Eastern Nepal on Thursday.
Mahaguru Phalgunanda is highly remembered for his outstanding contributions to bringing about social reforms at the time. He is being worshiped as a deity by the followers of Kirant religion.
The Kirant people especially of eastern Nepal celebrate the 25th Kartik in Nepali calendar every year as the Phalgunanda Jayanti.

In 2009, the government declared him the national luminary. He is the 16th national luminary of Nepal.
Naradhwaj Lingden, who was born on November 10, 1885 (Kartik 25, 1942 B.S.) in Chukchinamba of Ibhang in Ilam later became famous as Phalgunanda. He died on April 4, 1949 (Chaitra 22, 2005 B.S.).
Preparations are being made in three places of Morang and Sunsari to celebrate the birth anniversary of Mahaguru Phalgunanda, Kiranti Religion and Literature Upliftment Association informed.
Preparations are underway to unveil the statue of Mahaguru Phalgunand at Kerabari and Letang of Morang and Bharaul of Sunsari districts, the association said.

The birth anniversary of Mahaguru Phalgunand Lingden is being celebrated not only in Nepal but also abroad, said Dakendra Singh Thegim, chairman of the central committee of the association.
The birth anniversary is being marked in different parts of Nepal and abroad, including India, Bhutan, Hong Kong, UK, Malaysia, Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, South Korea, Japan, the USA, Australia, Canada, Cyprus and other countries, where followers of Kirant religion reside, he added.

Mahaguru Phalgunanda is credited with the continuation of the ancient Kirant religion on puritan principles, which includes vegetarianism and ban on meat and alcohol and evil cultural practices which raise social expenditures during celebrations such as births, weddings and funerals, said Sesehang Fayak, a writer and religious leader.
Fayak said his principles were still applicable.

Phagunanda had worked on the rendering of Kirant social mundhum (scripture), propagation of religion, language, literature, launching a campaign to abolish animal sacrifices and reviving religion and cultural practices.
He had voiced for the equal rights and education of daughters. In 2050 B.S., a commemorative postage stamp was issued in his honour.

The government has been giving holiday to the followers of Kirant religion on his birth anniversary, while various local governments, including Damak Municipality in Jhapa, have decided to give public holiday as honour to national luminary Phalgunanda.