Coronation of the Nepalese monarch
{{Short description|Ritual of the Kingdom of Nepal}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
File:Crown of Kingdom of Nepal "श्रीपेच".jpg, the crown used by Nepalese monarchs during their coronation]]
The coronation of the Nepalese monarch was a rājyābhiṣeka, a Hindu religious ceremony in which the King of Nepal was crowned.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/02/23/archives/nepal-begins-ritual-of-royal-coronation.html|title=Nepal Begins Ritual Of Royal Coronation|date=23 February 1975|work=The New York Times|author=Bernard Weinraub|accessdate=3 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/02/24/archives/worlds-only-hindu-king-is-crowned-in-nepal-ritual-worlds-only-hindu.html|title=World's Only Hindu King Is Crowned in Nepal Ritual|date=24 February 1975|work=The New York Times|author=Bernard Weinraub|accessdate=3 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://jplaffont.photoshelter.com/gallery/CORONATION-OF-THE-KING-OF-NEPAL/G00004u44NHRLjqc/|title=Coronation in 1975, Jean Pierre Laffont, 89 images}} The last coronation was held on 4 June 2001 for King Gyanendra.{{cite news|url=http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=8371#.Yfb5O_5BxPZ|work=Nepali Times|title=The once and future king|access-date=30 January 2022}} The Kingdom of Nepal was the last Hindu monarchy in the world at the time of its dissolution in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/world/asia/29nepal.html|title=Nepal Reborn as a Republic|date=29 May 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Somini Sengupta|accessdate=3 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/world/asia/29iht-nepal.4.13325066.html|title=The kingdom is dead, Nepal's republic is born|date=29 May 2008|work=The New York Times|author=|accessdate=3 September 2020}}
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 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.
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
See also
References
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