PUNE: Giripremi will launch its film on Mt Kangchenjunga Eco Expedition 2019 on Friday in a programme organised to celebrate International Mountain Day. 

The first screening of the film ‘Kangchenjunga - Ratnanche Shikhar’ will be held at 6.30 pm on Friday at Balgandharva Rangmandir. Apart from the screening, a ‘meet and greet’ with the greatest Sherpa mountaineers has also been planned. 

Veteran mountaineer and leader of Giripremi’s Mt Kangchenjunga Eco Expedition 2019 Umesh Zirpe said, “At the dawn of May 15, 2019, Giripremi’s 10 mountaineers successfully reached the top of Mt Kangchenjunga and created history. The journey to the top of the world’s third highest mountain was exhilarating, as climbing Kangchenjunga was more difficult than climbing Mt Everest. The effect of Cyclone Fony, constant snowfall, challenges of climbing on the hanging glacier and the pro-avalanche region made the journey tougher but exciting. The whole experience of 40-odd days has been captured in the camera and we are presenting it in the form of an audio-visual film.”

The meet and greet session with the Sherpas have been organised to commemorate International Mountain Day.

“Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations celebrates International Mountain Day on December 11 every year. The motive of the observance of the day is to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life. This year, Giripremi has invited Sherpas, the real sons of mountains and the community who has been living in the mountains for centuries to felicitate them for their contribution. All these Sherpas played a vital role in Giripremi’s Mt Kangchenjunga Eco Expedition 2019,” said Giripremi Founder and President Ushaprabha Page.

A book authored by Umesh Zirpe, ‘Parvatputra Sherpa’ and book titled ‘Base Camp Varun’, co-authored by Page, Anand Palande, Dilip Nimbalkar and Jayant Tulpule will be published during the programme. The programme is free and open to all.