A new image of Bigfoot split Nepal

In Nepal, burst into a heated argument about Bigfoot. But this time, not about how real or not the character of numerous legends, and how he looks.

"This is wrong. The government can't just go and do as he pleases" - shakes his head bystanders Reshma Shrestha, standing in front of a two-meter statue appeared in the center of the scandal. "If you'd never said it was Bigfoot, I would have never guessed," she adds.

Soon across Nepal will grow by more than a hundred such statues in the framework of the year of celebrations of the diverse heritages of the country that may be of interest to tourists. These Yeti-mascots can be found at the Nepalese attractions, shopping malls and airports, even in the base camps of the Himalayas. Some of them will fly to other cities in the world. A year of celebratory events, as expected by the government of Nepal needs to attract two million tourists, but the launch was somewhat overshadowed by a dispute around the exterior of the main mascot.

"In the folklore of the Yeti's always look like a monkey - explains in interview Bi-bi-si writer RAM Kumar Pandi, and the current logo is some kind of sumo wrestler. It in no way resembles the mythical creature of many folk legends."

Pandi versed in the subject, being the author of several books about Bigfoot and other historians of the culture of Nepal agree with him. In fact, the majority of the Nepalese are experts in regard to the Himalayan Yeti, without which no cost, almost no folk tale. And the option created by the tourism Board, they are not impressed.

"About Bigfoot, I know he look like a monkey and walks on the snow," says Reshma Shrestha, doubtfully eyeing the statue in front of the gardens of the Kaiser Mahal in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu.

Another bystander, Krishna Lama, also compares the statue with sumaisem: "He looks like a wrestler, not Bigfoot." Nevertheless, the Committee on the Yeti-art, one of the organizers of the Year of tourism in Nepal does not intend to abandon their creations, which cost 500 thousand rupees (about 4.5 thousand dollars) each.

According to the representative of the Committee of Prema Prabhata to go ahead, since Yeti is a mythical creature, to its modern image it is possible and even it was important to approach creatively.

"Our goal was to portray the Yeti as a symbol of peace, overcoming differences and humility, not as a terrifying creature, - he stressed. - People around the world Nepal should be associated not only with Everest, Buddha, and gurami. Yeti can realize our uniqueness."

The author of the design of the Yeti Ang Tserin Sherpa unwavering.

"When I sketch, I have not read any books - he explains. - I was guided by the stories heard in childhood, and the Buddha".

But there were practical considerations: Sherpa admits that he did not want to cover your character's hair, "to make it easier to paint".

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»