Following a summary review of recent news, artists interpret the color green as a symbol of positive energy, mental peace, a close bond with nature, and awareness against climate change. The Nepali Congress has linked its election symbol, the tree, with green, presenting the color as a political identity that conveys a message of environmental conservation and responsibility toward climate change.
Through creative initiatives such as ‘The Green Table’ and ‘Green Run,’ the Congress party is moving beyond traditional political debates to prioritize environmental and sustainable development issues.
Kathmandu, 12 Shrawan — Many recognize green as the color of nature. However, artists argue that its significance extends beyond this. They believe green evokes mental tranquility, positive energy, and a deep connection to nature.
Senior artist Kiran Manandhar explains that although blue is commonly associated with peace, green equally offers a sense of calmness and balance. He notes, “Greenery relaxes the mind, energizes people, and draws them closer to nature.” Manandhar emphasizes that green should not be viewed merely as a visual aesthetic but also as an expression of positive thinking, vitality, and an intimate relationship with the natural world.
He further states that Nepal’s identity is deeply intertwined with greenery. “The phrase ‘Green forests are Nepal’s wealth’ is widely known,” Manandhar says, “which reflects the close connection between the color green and the country’s natural heritage.”
Another artist, Mahesh Acharya, offers a broader spiritual and philosophical interpretation. He explains that the five colors on Buddhist prayer flags represent the five elements of the universe, with green symbolizing earth, nature, and life.
“According to belief, creation originates from the five elements,” Acharya says. “The prayer flags have five colors: blue, white, green, red, and yellow. These represent the universe’s five elements, with green specifically linked to nature, earth, and life.”
He highlights that one of the main causes of current global climate change is the destruction of forests and loss of greenery. For Acharya, green carries a message of environmental protection, stewardship of nature, and sustainable living. “Today’s climate crisis largely stems from deforestation and the reduction of greenery. Thus, green is no longer just a color in art; it has become a symbol of awareness for saving the planet.”
Today, green transcends being simply a color. At a time when the world faces a severe climate crisis, it embodies nature, life, hope, and responsibility for the earth’s future. Protecting the environment has become a collective human obligation worldwide.
Reflecting this changing context, the Nepali Congress has recently adopted green as its ‘visual identity.’ The party appears to connect green with political symbolism beyond just its election symbol, linking it explicitly with nature and the fight against climate change through its programs and new concepts.
For several months, the party’s Central Policy, Research and Training Department has been conducting ongoing discussions under the banner ‘The Green Table.’ On the 44th memorial day of the party’s founding leader, B.P. Koirala, Congress organized a running event called ‘Green Run’ on 6 Shrawan.
Congress Vice-Chairman Bishwaprakash Sharma associates this initiative not simply with political branding but with a pressing global need. He stresses that with the world under threat from climate change, protecting mountains, rivers, forests, and the environment is a shared responsibility of humanity.
“The entire world is suffering today due to climate change. In such a context, protecting nature, mountains, rivers, forests, and the overall environment has become a collective duty,” says Sharma. “With that message in mind, we have selected green as a symbol of nature.”
He adds that green should not be seen only as the color related to Congress’s election symbol but understood in light of the foresight of leader B.P. Koirala nearly 65–66 years ago, when he chose a tree as the election emblem.
“His vision is evident in that choice. Advocating nationalization of forests, adopting a tree as the election symbol, and emphasizing nature’s importance are even more relevant today amid the climate crisis,” Sharma explains.
Sharma urges interpreting the green branding not just from a political viewpoint but as an expression of environmental conservation and responsibility toward nature. “Forests are green, trees are green, and our election symbol is a green tree. To meet the climate challenge, the world needs greenery,” he states. “Therefore, this should be understood as an environmental and responsibility issue rather than a purely political one.”
General Secretary Pradeep Paudel also acknowledges that green, beyond being merely an election symbol, is inherently connected to the environment and climate change. Accordingly, Congress gives special priority to addressing climate change.
“Green is not limited to our election symbol; it is linked to environmental and climate change issues,” Paudel says, “and therefore, we have made climate change a key focus.”
Artist Acharya, recalling a conversation, also highlights B.P. Koirala’s sensitivity toward forests, nature, and greenery as evident in his writings and thoughts.
“B.P. Koirala expressed deep attachment to forests, nature, and greenery through his various works and ideas,” Acharya notes, “so green can be regarded not just as a color but as a symbol linked with life, energy, nature, and Nepal’s identity.”
According to General Secretary Paudel, Congress aims to steer politics toward creativity by prioritizing new, innovative activities and substantive discussions beyond traditional political debates.
“We want to advance politics in a creative direction. For that, our goal is to emphasize new forms of creative activity and issue-based dialogues beyond conventional political debates,” Paudel states.
He explains that through ‘The Green Table,’ the party engages with experts on current topics, gaining insights to inform policy and planning.
“We have been regularly fostering debate on social and national-international issues through ‘The Green Table,’” Paudel says. “This platform also helps associate our election symbol, the tree, with messages of climate change and environmental protection.”
Emphasizing that green symbolizes peace, harmony, prosperity, greenery, and positive thinking, he calls for understanding it as a symbol of hope, development, and confidence in the future rather than despair.
Paudel adds that Congress is actively working to establish green as a unique identity for the party. “Since our election symbol is the green tree, we have sought to establish green as a distinctive part of our identity,” he says, “directly linking it with our election emblem and political identity.”
