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{{short description|Birth Anniversary of Prithvi Narayan Shah}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Prithvi Jayanti
|nickname = National Unity Day
|image = Prithvi Jayanti in 2019.jpg
|imagesize =
|caption = Prithvi Jayanti being celebrated outside [[Singha Durbar]] in 2019
|type = patriotic
|observedby = [[Nepal]]
|significance = Commemorates the birth of King [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]]
|date = 11 January
|scheduling = same day every year
|duration = 1 day
|frequency = Annual
|celebrations =
|observances =
|relatedto =
}}

'''Prithvi Jayanti''' ({{Lang-ne|पृथ्वी जयन्ती|lit=Birthday of [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]]}}; also known as the '''Nepal Ekikaran Diwas''' ({{Lang-ne|नेपाल एकीकरण दिवस|translit=National Unification Day}}) or '''National Unity Day''') is an observance annually celebrated on 11 January to commemorate the birth of King [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]], who was the first [[King of Nepal|king of unified Nepal]]. In the mid-18th century, he set out to [[Unification of Nepal|unify the small kingdoms]] which would become present-day [[Nepal]]. During the observance, many people add a [[garland]] to statues of Shah, participate in the [[parade]]s, and remember his contribution to Nepal. Prithvi Jayanti was celebrated as a [[public holiday]] from 1951 until its abolishment in 2006. However, some [[local government]]s in [[Gorkha District]] and [[Nuwakot District]] have declared Prithvi Jayanti to be a public holiday. In 2023, the government declared it as a national holiday.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=diwakar |date=2023-01-10 |title=Prithvi Jayanti holiday is back after 15 years – OnlineKhabar English News |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/prithvi-jayanti-holiday-back.html |access-date=2023-01-11 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Unification ===
{{main article|Unification of Nepal}}
In the mid-18th century, [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]], king of the [[Gorkha Kingdom|Kingdom of Gorkha]] set out to [[Unification of Nepal|unify small kingdoms]] which would become present-day Nepal.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mulmi|first=Amish Raj|date=12 May 2017|title=The Nepal-Sikh Alliance That Could Have Changed History|url=https://thewire.in/books/nepal-sikh-alliance-india-british-raj|url-status=live|access-date=16 December 2021|website=The Wire|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216125717/https://thewire.in/books/nepal-sikh-alliance-india-british-raj}}</ref> After his victory at the [[Battle of Nuwakot]] (1744), he headed for the [[Kathmandu Valley]], where the three [[Malla dynasty (Nepal)|Malla]] kingdoms [[Kingdom of Bhaktapur|Bhaktapur]], [[Kingdom of Lalitpur|Patan]], and [[Kingdom of Kantipur|Kantipur]] were ruling.<ref name="Shrestha">{{Cite book|last1=Shrestha|first1=D. B.|url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/rarebooks/downloads/History_Ancient_Medieval_Nepal.pdf|title=The History of Ancient and Medieval Nepal in a Nutshell: With Some Comparative Traces of Foreign History|last2=Singh|first2=C. B.|date=1972|pages=91–92|publisher=HMG Press|language=en|access-date=21 December 2021|archive-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730050415/http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/rarebooks/downloads/History_Ancient_Medieval_Nepal.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Shah went to a [[Battle of Kirtipur|battle with the Kingdom of Patan]] over the town of [[Kirtipur]], and in 1767 the town fell into the hand of the [[Gurkha|Gorkhas]].<ref name="Shrestha" /> This posed a threat to Kantipur, subsequently, the King of [[Kingdom of Kantipur|Kantipur]], [[Jaya Prakash Malla]], requested assistance from the [[East India Company]] to stop the rapid expansion of Gorkha.<ref name="Shrestha" />

Recently, Shah had also imposed a blockade on the kingdom which hurt the East India Company's trans-Himalayan trade with [[Tibet]] and [[China]] as they used the route that went through Kantipur.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Basnyat|first=Prem Singh|date=18 August 2019|title=The battle of Sindhuli|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/72404/|url-status=live|access-date=16 December 2021|website=My Republica|language=en|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216140136/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/72404/}}</ref> The company accepted the request and sent Captain Kinloch who met Prithvi Narayan Shah's forces at the [[Battle of Sindhuli]] in 1767.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bell|first=Thomas|date=21 December 2012|title=Diary of a disastrous campaign|url=https://www.himalmag.com/diary-disastrous-campaign/|url-status=live|access-date=16 December 2021|website=Himal Southasian|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216143034/https://www.himalmag.com/diary-disastrous-campaign/}}</ref> The battle proved to be disastrous for the company, Kinloch fled with approximately 800 soldiers out of almost 24,000.<ref name=":0" /> After this Shah managed to conquer the valley and proclaimed himself as the [[King of Nepal]] on 25 September 1768.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lal|first=CK|date=14 September 2021|title=Six years of ethnonational upsurge|url=https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2021/09/14/six-years-of-ethnonational-upsurge|url-status=live|access-date=16 December 2021|website=The Kathmandu Post|language=English|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216145146/https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2021/09/14/six-years-of-ethnonational-upsurge}}</ref> After Prithvi Narayan Shah's death, the [[Unification of Nepal]] campaign was continued notability by [[Prince Bahadur Shah of Nepal|Prince Bahadur Shah]], [[Queen Rajendra of Nepal|Queen Rajendra]], and [[Bhimsen Thapa]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bādala|first=Bheshajaṅga|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9I6OAAAAMAAJ|title=The King Versus the People|date=1997|publisher=Nepal Tiger Publications|pages=2|language=en|access-date=21 December 2021|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216151347/https://books.google.com/books?id=9I6OAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Adhikari|first=Indra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CVLeCQAAQBAJ|title=Military and Democracy in Nepal|date=12 June 2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-58906-8|pages=58|language=en|access-date=21 December 2021|archive-date=7 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207211547/https://books.google.com/books?id=CVLeCQAAQBAJ&newbks=0|url-status=live}}</ref> At its greatest extent, the [[Kingdom of Nepal]] extended from the [[Sutlej|Sutlej River]] in the west to the [[Teesta River]] in the east.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bhattarai|first=Krishna P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-aArqOqBGBQC|title=Nepal|date=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-0523-9|pages=113|language=en|access-date=21 December 2021|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216151339/https://books.google.com/books?id=-aArqOqBGBQC&newbks=0|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Contemporary ===
[[File:Prithvi Narayan Shah 1960.jpg|thumb|Posthumous painting of King [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]]]]

Prithvi Jayanti is also known as the Nepal Ekikaran Diwas (National Unification Day) or National Unity Day.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Mulmi|first=Amish Raj|date=21 January 2021|title=Who gets to write our history?|url=https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2021/01/21/who-gets-to-write-our-history|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=The Kathmandu Post|language=English|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221162116/https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2021/01/21/who-gets-to-write-our-history}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Hyolmo|first=Kunga|date=12 January 2020|title=298th Prithvi Jayanti observed across the country (with photos)|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/84258/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124164920/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/84258/|archive-date=24 November 2020|access-date=12 January 2021|website=My Republica|language=en}}</ref> From 1951, Prithvi Jayanti was traditionally celebrated as a [[public holiday]], however, it was abolished after the [[2006 Nepalese revolution]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Acharya|first=Rupesh|date=11 January 2017|title=Govt urged to declare Paush 27 public holiday|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/government-urged-to-declare-paush-27-public-holiday|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221154549/https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/government-urged-to-declare-paush-27-public-holiday}}</ref> In 2019, the mayor of [[Gorkha Municipality]] proclaimed Prithvi Jayanti to be a public holiday in the [[Municipalities of Nepal|municipality]] to "celebrate and honour Prithvi Narayan Shah and celebrate the day in his memory".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sapkota|first=Narahari|date=17 December 2019|title=Gorkha Municipality declares public holiday on Prithvi Jayanti|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/81947/|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=My Republica|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221171510/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/81947/}}</ref> Other municipalities followed soon in [[Gorkha District]] to declare this day to be a public holiday including the [[Palungtar Municipality]], the [[Ajirkot Rural Municipality]], the [[Siranchowk Rural Municipality|Siranchok Rural Municipality]], and the [[Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Five local units of Gorkha announce public holiday today|url=https://english.khabarhub.com/2021/11/155473/|access-date=21 December 2021|website=Khabarhub|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221154122/https://english.khabarhub.com/2021/11/155473/|url-status=live}}</ref> Next year, [[Bidur|Bidur Municipality]], capital of [[Nuwakot District]], also proclaimed it to be a public holiday.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bidur municipality announces public holiday on Prithvi Jayanti|work=Khabarhub|url=https://english.khabarhub.com/2020/08/67260/|access-date=21 December 2021|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221154628/https://english.khabarhub.com/2020/08/67260/|url-status=live}}</ref> There is pressure from some Nepalese citizens, especially from the pro-monarchies to make Prithvi Jayanti a public holiday.<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 January 2019|title='Prithvi Narayan Shah's contribution should be analysed: Karnali CM Shahi|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/prithvi-narayan-shahs-contribution-should-be-analysed-karnali-chief-minister-mahendra-bahadur-shahi|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221155305/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/prithvi-narayan-shahs-contribution-should-be-analysed-karnali-chief-minister-mahendra-bahadur-shahi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ram Rimal|first=Tilak|date=10 January 2017|title=Nepal wouldn't exist if there wasn't Prithvi Narayan: Dahal|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepal-would-vanish-if-there-wasnt-prithvi-narayan-says-dahal|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221155236/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepal-would-vanish-if-there-wasnt-prithvi-narayan-says-dahal}}</ref>

In 2021, the [[Nepal Police]] and pro-monarchy supporters clashed injuring some, as they were trying put garlands on the statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah in a restricted area outside [[Singha Durbar]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=Sandeep|date=12 January 2021|title=Police, pro-monarchy activists clash|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/police-pro-monarchy-activists-clash|access-date=21 December 2021|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303125456/https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/police-pro-monarchy-activists-clash|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Supporters of monarchy and police clash in front of Singha Durbar|url=https://kathmandupost.com/visual-stories/2021/01/11/supporters-of-monarchy-and-police-clash-in-front-of-singha-durbar|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112113809/https://kathmandupost.com/visual-stories/2021/01/11/supporters-of-monarchy-and-police-clash-in-front-of-singha-durbar|archive-date=12 January 2021|access-date=12 January 2021|website=The Kathmandu Post|language=English}}</ref> People are usually divided on celebrating Prithvi Jayanti.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Sundas|first=Binayak|date=14 January 2021|title=Why national unification day and Prithvi Narayan Shah should not be celebrated|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/103283/|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=My Republica|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221171545/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/103283/}}</ref> Some feel without Prithvi Narayan Shah's unification campaign, Nepal would have been a colony of the [[British Empire]].<ref name=":4" /> Others say some people seeking the restoration of the [[Kingdom of Nepal]] and restoring the Shah's significance would "revert to an era where both caste and [[Cultural imperialism|cultural dominance]] had the overt backing of the state''".<ref name=":5"/>'' In 2022, [[Rajendra Prasad Lingden]], Chairman of [[Rastriya Prajatantra Party]], sent a [[memorandum]] asking Prime Minister [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]] to declare Prithvi Jayanti as a public holiday, and the party has also told they would start a nationwide protests if their request was not met.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|title=RPP Chairman Lingden warns of nationwide protest if a public holiday is not declared on Prithvi Jayanti|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/rpp-chairman-lingden-warns-of-nationwide-protest-if-a-public-holiday-is-not-declared-on-prithvi-jayanti/|url-status=live|access-date=6 January 2022|website=Republica|language=en}}</ref> The same year, [[Bibeksheel Sajha Party]] said Prithvi Jayanti should be celebrated as ''Nepal Day'' and supported idea of declaring it as a public holiday.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|title=Bibeksheel Sajha demands govt declare Prithvi Jayanti as Nepal Day|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/122379/|url-status=live|access-date=6 January 2022|website=My Republica|language=en}}</ref> In 2023, Owing to pressure from the pro-monarchy [[Rastriya Prajatantra Party]] as [[Rastriya Prajatantra Party|RPP]] had proposed the Prithvi Jayanti holiday as a precondition for its support to the [[Pushpa Kamal Dahal]]-led government,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Himalayan News |date=2022-12-29 |title=RPP sets conditions for joining government |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/rpp-sets-conditions-for-joining-government |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}}</ref> the government declared it as a national holiday.<ref name=":6" />

== Celebrations ==
Prithvi Narayan Shah was born on 11 January 1723 ([[Bikram Sambat]]: 7 [[Poush]] 1779) in [[Gorkha Palace]], [[Gorkha District]], Nepal.<ref name=":1" /> During Prithvi Jayanti, high officials including the [[Chief of Army Staff (Nepal)|Chief of Army Staff]], the [[President of Nepal]], and the [[Prime Minister of Nepal]] remember Shah's contribution to Nepal.<ref name=":1" /> The people who participate in the [[parade]]s, chant slogans praising Prithvi Narayan Shah.<ref name=":1" /> Quotes from ''[[Divyopadesh]]'', a collection of teachings of Shah, are also chanted.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Actor Manisha Koirala, former DIG Kharel urge one and all to celebrate 299th birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan Shah in a grand manner|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/102719/|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=My Republica|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221172026/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/102719/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Prithvi Jayanti, National Unification Day celebrated with national significance|url=https://en.setopati.com/uncategorized/114843/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112115039/https://en.setopati.com/uncategorized/114843|archive-date=12 January 2021|access-date=12 January 2021|website=Setopati}}</ref> The statues of Shah throughout Nepal are [[garland]]ed.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 January 2017|title=RPP to host reception on Prithvi Jayanti|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/rpp-to-host-reception-on-prithvi-jayanti|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221160201/https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/rpp-to-host-reception-on-prithvi-jayanti}}</ref> The [[Nepali Army]] organises a unification torch rally from the birthplace of Shah in Gorkha and it concludes after reaching the capital [[Kathmandu]] on 11 January.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nepal Army personnel trekking Prithvi Narayan Shah's unification trail|url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-army-personnel-trekking-prithvi-narayan-shahs-unification-trail.html|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=OnlineKhabar|date=5 January 2021 |language=en-GB|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221155909/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-army-personnel-trekking-prithvi-narayan-shahs-unification-trail.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Unification torch rally to be organized along historic route used by Gorkhali troops|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/83288/|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=My Republica|language=en|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119063511/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/83288/}}</ref> Other programs are also organised throughout Nepal.<ref name=":1" />

In December 2021, a committee representing the Nepal Academy, the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, and the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts and Cultural Corporation was formed to celebrate the 300th Prithvi Jayanti in 2022.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Committee formed to mark Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/121847/|url-status=live|access-date=21 December 2021|website=My Republica|language=en|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221171956/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/121847/}}</ref> On 9 January, the committee will organise a book and painting exhibition, next day there will be a talk program, and on the last day on 11 January, there will be cultural processions and program.<ref name=":3"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAZpfqSa0J4 Prithvi Jayanti & National Unity Day 2077] on [[YouTube]]

{{Prithvi Narayan Shah}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayanti, Prithvi}}
[[Category:Annual events in Nepal]]
[[Category:January observances]]
[[Category:Prithvi Narayan Shah]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Nepal]]
[[Category:Unification of Nepal]]

Prithvi Jayanti - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Add new article