Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said becoming modern should not be a crass imitation that effaces one’s identity. In a cultural event organized at Lalitpur Metropolis-21 on Sunday, DPM Shrestha viewed dull imitation is deleterious to identity. “It is worrying that dull imitation is growing in the name of modernity. We are copying English by forgetting our language and culture,” he observed. He further said we are priding more on English than our mother tongue. It is gradually effacing our identity and culture, DPM Shrestha asserted. “Time has come for all three layers of government and Guthis to protect and promote native languages,” he reminded, lauding the role of Newari community in Khokana to protect their ethnic identity and culture. According to him, every ethnicity has its own identity and culture; only its protection earns pride. It does not suppress others. Once the identity is not protected, it bears negative impact on economy and culture. Also speaking on the occasion, former minister and leader of CPN (Maoist Centre), Pampha Bhusal, pointed out the need for development of Khokana as a destination of cultural tourism. She wished success to the barhabarse mela, a cultural event organized every 12 years in Khokana. Moreover, Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Chiribabu Maharjan, said art and cultures are identity of Khokana people. He thanked Khokana people, reasoning they were protecting culture and tangible and intangible heritages. Chairman of Rudrayani Temple Reconstruction Committee and devgan Bekhnar Maharjan informed that Goddess Rudrayani is kept in gufa for a month since Gaijatra and then begins the cultural festival, barshra barshe mela. The cultural festival is observed in the southern outskirt of the Kathmandu Valley. Source: National News Agency-Nepal