Devendra KC
In the eastern hemispheres of the globe
There exists a historic country Nepal
A peaceful, beautiful and undivided land
Thriving for eons
With the maxim: ‘Basudaiva kutumbakam’
Spreading the glory of unity
And denouncing all moves for colonization
It is home of the Nepalese, the proud folks
Where nine-colored danphe and monals dance
Where rivers croon
To the thrilling melody of the cascades
And the lakes smirk
In the matchless beauty of the Himalayan mountains
The sun and the moon come down to play hide-and-seek
The musk deer frolic
And in the storehouse of herbs
One can see footsteps of the snowman.
It’s a place where the ancient sages meditated
Where the Buddha took birth and made the land holy
Here, annals of bravery are written in every age
And in every heartbeat
There are honks of honesty that constantly treble
There is shower of love
In the inexhaustible treasury of art, culture and music
At the home of Bhrikuti and Sita’s parents
At the city of Bideha ruled by ancient King Janak
The tales of goodwill are written even today
Temples, mosques, monasteries and churches here
Manifest footprints of human civilization
And there flows in the heart of every man
The slogan: “Atithi devo bhava.”
Their honor perks up in hospitality
Thought they stay in hungry bellies
The people here consider it their great virtue
To feed their guests to their satisfaction
From the Himalayan peaks that brew snow
To the plains in the Tarai that raise mustard
From the huts of the poor
To the grand five-star hotels
None shall ever spot a defect
In the integrity of the Nepalese.
The pristine beauty of flora and fauna
Allures every human being
On-foot tourism is our specialty
Where lies a matchless confluences of Nepali heart and Nepaliness
To this is the land of Sagarmatha
The people are impatient to welcome everyone
So
Come here, oh people of the entire world!
And rejoice in this fragrance of heaven.
Reap utmost harvest of natural beauty
And observe Visit Nepal Year 2020!
Not just once, we’d welcome you a thousand times;
We welcome you all the time.
English Translation: Mahesh Paudyal
[Devendra KC is a poet, muktak writer and lyricist of high repute in Nepal. Presently, he is the General Manager of Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. He has published two collections of poems Yasari Pokhiyo Mann and Pareli Bhitrai Chhu and two anthologies of quatrains Manko Pahiro and Imanko Pahad. He has contributed a lot in the promotion of Nepali literature and music, both at home and abroad.]
Proud to read. Excellent poem. In fact, each line deserves a title of a book. Good luck and proud of you, Devendra KC!!! Congratulations also to Mahesh Paudyal for the nice translations, which is a cumbersome task in itself.