KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has formally invited President Ram Chandra Paudel to attend the Samyak Mahadan ceremony scheduled for January 15, 2027, at Bhui Khel in Swayambhu.
Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol, who is also the chief coordinator of the main organizing committee, presented the traditional invitation, known as Gwayadan, at the President’s Office in Shital Niwas on Thursday. The invitation followed ritual worship at Swayambhu in the morning and a procession accompanied by traditional and state ceremonial music.
The invitation ritual was performed under the religious authority of Professor Naresh Man Bajracharya, with senior Buddhist priests and assistant gurus conducting the ceremonies. Prayers were offered at Swayambhu’s Shantipur, Basudhara and Mahamanjushree, as well as to deities associated with the Samyak Mahadan ceremony, including Lord Amitabha, Bijeshwari Yogini and Avalokiteshwar, also known as Seto Machhindranath.
The delegation included representatives of the organizing and implementation committees, ward chairs, municipal executive members and department heads, accompanied by ceremonial bands of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, as well as traditional Dhime and Gula musicians.
At Shital Niwas, Dangol read out the invitation letter and presented it to the president. The ceremony also included traditional offerings of water, tika, garlands, flowers and fruit.
As part of the ritual, Dangol also performed Ghantaghoshan, a traditional public announcement of the invitation from Swayambhu. According to local custom, those who have not received a formal cultural or administrative invitation are considered invited through this public announcement.
