Gangtok, Sept. 16: Undeterred by the attempts of a lone monk, the two-day Khangchendzonga festival organised by the Sikkim tourism department will kick off in the state capital tomorrow.

Three members of the first successful expedition to Mt Khangchendzonga, George Band, Norman Hardie and Tony Streather, have reached Gangtok to participate in the Khangchendzonga festival to be inaugurated tomorrow by chief minister Pawan Chamling.

Pema Chopel, a duplapa (monk of a senior order) of Rakdong Tenzong monastery, yesterday withdrew his public interest litigation. The court had observed that the case was an attempt to stall a development process whereby tourism in the state would get a boost. The court also said religion should not be mixed with politics.

The monk had alleged that the celebrations would hurt the sentiments of the people since it glorified the conquest of a peak which is considered to be the guardian deity of Sikkim.

The festival clubbed with the Pang Lhabsol celebration, which falls on Sunday, is to commemorate 50 years of the first successful ascent of the peak in 1955. Members of the victorious team will be felicitated and people here will show their gratitude to the mountaineers who did not climb the last six feet out of respect for local custom.

The celebrations in Ravangla in south Sikkim kicked off today with cultural programmes and sporting events.