The birthday of Nar Bahadur Bhandari is observed in Sikkim every October 5 as an official holiday to honor the second Chief Minister of the state, who served from 1979 to 1994. Bhandari, born on October 5, 1940, was the first chief minister of Nepali origin in India and is recognized for founding the Sikkim Sangram Parishad political party and advocating for the inclusion of the Nepali language as an official language in India. His tenure saw significant advancements in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Sikkim. Bhandari's political career included leading the Sikkim Janata Parishad and later the Sikkim Sangram Parishad, with notable electoral successes in the 1985 and 1989 assembly elections. He passed away on July 16, 2017, and his contributions to the state are commemorated through this holiday, which includes various celebrations and remembrances of his legacy.