HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Their Majesties to receive civic honour today
Dhangadhi gets ready for reception, Public support for function overwhelming

By Bhimsen Thapaliya/ Prakash Bikram Shah

Dhangadhi, Kailali, April 3: Preparations have been completed for the civic felicitations of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen here by the people of the far-western region, with this western Terai town decked in bridal beauty.

Around 150,000 people from all the nine districts of this development region are expected to overwhelm the Open Air Theatre in the heart of Dhangadhi to honour their King and Queen Friday.
His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is scheduled to address the felicitation ceremony. During a similar felicitation function held in eastern Nepal's Biratnagar three months ago, His Majesty the King had defined the role of the Nepalese monarchy in the 21st century, underlining that monarchy is for democracy, democracy for the nation's development and both the monarchy and democracy for the prosperous future of Nepal.

People of this farthest part of the country are offering more than 70 letters of felicitations to Their Majesties the King and Queen. More than 326 petitions have also been registered. The petitioners have complained about their sufferings relating to the basic needs of living, jobs, shelter and impacts of the insurgency.

Dhangadhi is in the mood of observing a great festival. Everyone is keen to welcome the royal couple. Freshly maintained and tidied streets are decorated with a series of archways in the main areas of the town. National flags flutter at every nook and intersection, red banners display words honouring Their Majesties. Posters with the photographs of Their Majesties the King and Queen are on display in every household.

"Dhangadhi has been completely transformed, and public support for the civic honour of the King and Queen is overwhelming," said C. K. Singh, spokesman of the organising main committee.
Singh said that preparations have been made considering the expected public turn-up, including emergency arrangements. "We are expecting about 150,000 which may exceed the capacity of the Open Air Theatre," he added.

The venue of the grand ceremony, the Open Air Theatre, has been neatly and systematically furnished for the function. On the western side of the vast field stands the artistically decorated stage where Their Majesties will be seated. The theatre has been divided into several sections, each meant for different ranks of people. More than 200 national and foreign journalists are attending the function for which a separate seating arrangement has been made. There are 13 gates to ensure a smooth flow of participants to and from the theatre.

As heat is gradually getting intense in Dhangadhi, drinking water supply has been well arranged. More than 2,000 bottles of drinking water will be made available to the participants by volunteers who number 750, said spokesman Singh. Four medical booths manned by doctors, health assistants, nurses and medical aides will be set up at the venue to provide prompt medical services. In case emergency situation arises, five pints of blood of each of the four blood groups will be kept at the venue.

Each medical booth will be equipped with an ambulance while another ambulance will be kept stand-by at Attaria road junction about 14 kilometres north of here.

Pancha Kanyas representing the different ethnic communities of the region will receive Their Majesties at the royal felicitation venue. An 18-member musical band will perform the national anthem and a welcome song at the opening of the ceremony.

The physical infrastructure has been constructed from the development budget of the government, he said.

According to Singh, 120 buses, 40 trucks and 96 tractors have been arranged for the incoming participants from all over Kailali district. Similar transport arrangements have also been made for the people coming from other 8 districts of the far-western region.

The civic reception will be aired live by Nepal Television.

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