WELCOME FOR HILLARY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 9

WELCOME FOR HILLARY

Triumphal Return To Katmandu

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) KATMANDU, June 20. Garlanded with flowers and daubed with vermilion, Sir Edmund Hillary, the New Zealander, and the Sherpa, Tensing Bhotia, who together conquered Everest, arrived at Katmandu today with the main party of the British expedition. For miles along the rough mountain track leading to Katmandu, excited crowds showered the two men—who stood together on the roof of the world on May 29—with rice and vermilion powder.

The expedition’s leader, Colonel Sir John Hunt, and four other members of the-British team, who arrived at Katmandu earlier this week, met the two men with beer, biscuits and bananas at the end of the rough road leading from Katmandu to Banepa, the last village on the motor road 20 miles out of the Nepalese capital.

Sir John Hunt, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Tensing were officially received at Banepa on a brightly-decorated stage, surrounded by crowds of excited, shouting people.

The British Ambasador to Nepal (Mr Christopher Summerhayes) welcomed them, and the party moved off slowly towards Katmandu, winding its way through the narrow streets of Banepa with their crudely scrawled notices “Long live Tensing, Star of Twilight,” and “Congratulations Mr Hillary, conqueror of Everest.”

The expedition rode towards Katmandu in vehicles especially brought to the valley by coolies over the mountains from India, for as yet no roads connect Katmandu with the outside world.

Only vehicles with four-wheel drive are able to negotiate many parts of the track.

Processions of schoolchildren marched and chanted welcomes to Tensing and Sir Edmund Hillary, and loudspeakers blared from jeeps. Triumphal arches, with replicas and pictures of Everest with the Nepali flag, were placed at many points. ' King Tribhuvan, of Nepal, today conferred the title of Nepal Tara (FirstClass) on Tensing, in recognition of his part in the Everest victory. It is Nepal’s highest order for commoners. Sir John Hunt and Sir Edmund Hillary were awarded the Gorkha Dakshma Bahu (First-Class).