Liglig race called off as Palungtar municipality objects to administration's halt

The historic Liglige race that Palungtar municipality in Gorkha was planning to organize did not take place on Thursday after the district administration halted it.

Chudamani Adhikari, administrative officer at the District Administration Office, Gorkha, had sent a letter on Wednesday evening informing the municipality and the Liglig Development Campaign that security could not be provided for the event.

The municipality had prepared to hold the race on Asoj 29 and the campaign on Asoj 30 separately, and the two sides had been unable to reach an agreement.

Runners from various districts who had come to run from Chepeghat to Ligligkot are now being taken around Ligligkot and sent back by the municipality, along with their transport costs.

Mayor Bibash Chintan said the last-minute halt, which came after all preparations were complete, infringed on the local government's authority.

He alleged that instead of controlling those who posed a challenge to security, the administration had, by stopping the event itself, encouraged the wrong tendency.

According to him, preparations are underway to coordinate with other local units and take a delegation to the Chief District Officer.

Although the race had in the past carried on a tradition of choosing a 'king' for one year, this practice has been discontinued in recent years.