Darjeeling, Aug. 22: The curtains today went up on a belated celebration of the 50th anniversary of man’s first ascent of Everest at Darjeeling.

The event follows the anniversary celebrations held the world over to felicitate the mountain legends. It came as a face-saver for residents of this hill town, where Tenzing Norgay Sherpa lived.

On May 29, 1953 Tenzing conquered Everest with Edmund Hillary, which happened to be the birthday of the Sherpa.

While the Everesters lauded the organiser Jamling Tenzing Norgay, said Tenzing’s son, struck a discordant note. “I would have cancelled all my engagements to be in Darjeeling on May 29. However, there was no such invitation for any functions, here, even six months prior to the day. Finally, I accepted invitations from other people who have been asking me to come for more than a year.”

On May 29 this year, Tenzing’s palatial house at Dal Bahadur Road remained deserted as Jamling and other Everesters attended the weeklong celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Everest conquest at Kathmandu.

“It is always better late than never,” he said with a smile, parrying any further questions on the topic.

Everesters awarded at the function included Nima Norbu, Lattu Sherpa, Kushang Sherpa and Kunga Bhutia, the first women to summit the snowy peaks from the state.

Also feted were Nawang Topgay, who was a part of the 1953 expedition, Colonel Vijay Singh, Nadre Sherpa, Kushan Sherpa, all of who summitted the Everest on May 21 this year.

Kushan is the first Indian to have scaled Everest five times.

Rajesh Chhetri, president of the Darjeeling Rotary Club that organised the event, said the heroes would be made an honorary member of the club for a year. Tenzing had been an honorary member of the same club.