Coronation of the Nepalese monarch

The Coronation of the Nepalese monarch was a rājyābhiṣeka, a Hindu religious ceremony in which the King of Nepal was crowned. The last coronation was held on 24 February 1975 for King Birendra.[1][2][3] The Kingdom of Nepal was the last Hindu monarchy in the world at the time of its dissolution in 2008.[4][5]

Birendra Bir Bikram Shah wearing the crown of Nepal used in the coronation ceremony.

Preparations

The coronation would happen on a date selected by court astrologers for its auspiciousness. On the chosen day, the new King would have eight different types of clay ceremoniously applied to parts of his body. He would then bathe in holy water before being sprinkled with a mixture of butter, milk, curd and honey by a representative of the four traditional varnas of the Hindu society – a brahmin, a kshatriya, a vaishya and an shudra.

Crowning ceremony

Only after these had been done was the King allowed to be crowned. At the most auspicious moment, selected by the astrologers, the King would be crowned by the royal priest with the Crown of Nepal, a large jewel-encrusted crown.

After the ceremony

The King's subjects, family and courtiers would salute him and there would be a parade. The King, royal family and other guests and courtiers would ride through the streets of the capital Kathmandu on elephants.

See also

• Rājyābhiṣeka
• Coronation of the Thai monarch

References

1. Bernard Weinraub (23 February 1975). "Nepal Begins Ritual Of Royal Coronation". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
2. Bernard Weinraub (24 February 1975). "World's Only Hindu King Is Crowned in Nepal Ritual". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
3. "Coronation in 1975, Jean Pierre Laffont, 89 images".
4. Somini Sengupta (29 May 2008). "Nepal Reborn as a Republic". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
5. "The kingdom is dead, Nepal's republic is born". The New York Times. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2020.