Nepalis celebrate Dashain festival with President, ex-king

Prerana Marasini
http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/10/stories/2008101053701600.htm

President Ram Baran Yadav offers ‘tika’ to citizens

KATHMANDU: Celebrating the main festival of Nepali Hindus, President Ram Baran Yadav offered ‘tika’ (a mixture of rice, vermillion, and curd) to national and international citizens in the capital on Thursday.

Mr. Yadav offered the blessings of the festival in the capacity of head of State of the Himalayan country, which was until 2006 a Hindu Kingdom. Among others, Vice-President Paramananda Jha and Deputy Prime Minister Bam Dev Gautam received ‘tika’ from the President.

Likewise, the former royal couple, Gyanendra Shah and Komal Shah, also offered Dashain blessings to former ministers, former army personnel and the general public.

Kamal Thapa, former Home Minister and now chairperson of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, after receiving the blessings, told journalists that Nepalis still have a soft corner for monarchy.
Hundreds of people had gathered at Nirmal Niwas (Shah’s private residence, though they live in Nagarjun Palace) in Maharjguj to get the blessings from the former royal couple.

Earlier, the kings used to formally offer Dashain blessings to ministers, officials and the general public; but now that monarchy is abolished in the country, the ex-royal couple organised the programme at their private residence.

PTI reports:

In a message, President Yadav extended best wishes to all the Nepalese on the occasion and wished that communal harmony and national unity prevailed in the country.