Bharatpur, Jan. 26: A couple from Bharatpur has donated Rs. 365,000 to the National Innovation Centre (NIC) on the occasion of their Chaurasi Puja (a ritual held when one is 84 years old).

Khimananda Poudel and his wife Kaushalya Poudel, residents of Bharatpur Metropolitan City-2, donated the money they would have used for the Puja to the NIC. 

They handed over the cheque to the Centre’s board member Hari Silwal on Thursday.

Providing the cheque, Khimananda said that they decided to reduce wasteful expenses and support the Centre. Meanwhile, Prem Rimal, his son-in-law, called his parents-in-law’s donation a progressive step.

Bikram Pandey, former minister and member of the erstwhile Constituent Assembly, also spoke on the occasion and stressed the need to preserve culture and traditions.

“If we let our culture and traditions disappear, our originality will also disappear,” he said.

Everybody present at the Puja wished the Poudel couple a long and healthy life and praised their philanthropy.