KATHMANDU, Nov 2: A tea reception organized by main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals kicked off at the party central office, Sanepa, Lalitpur. 

Nepali Congress hosts the tea reception on Kojagrat Poornima, the concluding day of the Dashain festival, each year. The annual event was postponed this year and rescheduled for today due to demise of its leader and former minister Chakra Prasad Banstola, said NC central committee member Pradeep Poudel. 

Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, senior leader Ramchandra Poudel, general secretary Dr Shashanka Koirala and leader Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar have been at the party headquarters to welcome the guests. As told by party Spokesperson Bishwa PrakashSharma, about 100,000 people have been invited to the tea party which has kicked off at all the party's offices in 77 districts. The schedule for the event has been fixed from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 

The NC has been hosting a tea reception since 2035 BS after its prominent leader BP Koirala returned home following his eight years in self-exile in India in 2033 BS with the national reconciliation policy.

 
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