Coronation of the Nepalese monarch

Description

The coronation would take place 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 representatives of each of the four traditional varnas of the Hindu society: a brahmin, a kshatriya, a vaishya and a shudra. After these rituals, and at the most auspicious moment selected by the astrologers, the king would be crowned by the royal priest with the Shripech, 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.

Gallery

King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah in his coronation robe.png|The Coronation of King Tribhuvan, aged 5, 1911 King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah and Queen Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Devi, shortly after the King’s coronation, 1955.jpg|King Mahendra with his wife Queen Ratna during their coronation, 1955 Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.jpg|King Birendra depicted with the crown and sceptre in a portrait Medal, coronation (AM 2014.7.9-1).jpg|Medal commemorating the coronation of King Birendra, 1975

References

References

1. [[Bernard Weinraub]]. (23 February 1975). "Nepal Begins Ritual Of Royal Coronation". [[The New York Times]].
2. [[Bernard Weinraub]]. (24 February 1975). "World's Only Hindu King Is Crowned in Nepal Ritual". [[The New York Times]].
3. "Coronation in 1975, Jean Pierre Laffont, 89 images".
4. "The once and future king". Nepali Times.
5. [[Somini Sengupta]]. (29 May 2008). "Nepal Reborn as a Republic". [[The New York Times]].
6. (29 May 2008). "The kingdom is dead, Nepal's republic is born". [[The New York Times]].