Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chief Chiribabu Maharjan has handed over the management of Patan Museum to the local government, expressing the belief that this will make its management easier. Speaking at a program organized by the Patan Museum Development Committee on the occasion of International Museum Day, Maharjan said the metropolitan city is committed to preserving historical and cultural heritage and that local management would lead to improved museum operations.
Lalitpur Mayor Hands Over Patan Museum
He emphasized the importance of museums for metropolitan status and noted that Lalitpur itself is like a living museum. Maharjan highlighted challenges faced due to population pressure from migration across all 77 districts into the valley, putting the museum at risk, and stressed that responsibility must be given to local authorities to protect it.
Dr. Suresh Surash Shrestha, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said museums should encompass all aspects of society, not only old artifacts but also the evolution of people and communities, serving society through information dissemination. Chief District Officer Ramesh Prasad Dhakal stated that preserving the archaeological museums of the Kathmandu Valley, regarded as living museums by the global community, is everyone’s responsibility.
Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Saubhagya Pradhanang, stressed the need to enhance the museum’s attraction in the future. International Museum Day, celebrated annually on May 18 since its declaration by the United Nations in 1983, serves as a reminder of the importance and uniqueness of museums.
