Flag of Nepal

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Triangle Flag, Chandra Ra Surya, Jungi Nishan, Pahāḍa
UseNational flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportionsee below
Adopted16 December 1962; 61 years ago (1962-12-16)
DesignThe national flag of Nepal consists of two juxtaposed triangular figures with a red-coloured base and deep blue borders, there being a white emblem of the crescent moon with eight rays visible out of sixteen in the upper part and a white emblem of a twelve rayed sun in the lower part

The national flag of Nepal (Nepali: नेपालको झण्डा) is the world's only irregular flag acting as both the state flag and civil flag of a sovereign country. The flag is a simplified combination of two single pennons (or pennants), known as a double-pennon. Its crimson red is the symbol of bravery and it also represents the color of the rhododendron, Nepal's national flower, while the blue border is the color of peace. Until 1962, the flag's emblems, both the sun and the crescent moon, had human faces, but they were removed to modernize the flag.

The current flag was adopted on 16 December 1962, along with the formation of a new constitutional government. Shankar Nath Rimal, a civil engineer, standardised the flag on the request of King Mahendra. It borrows from the original, traditional design, used throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and is a combination of the two individual pennons used by rival branches of the ruling dynasty.

Colour scheme


Colour scheme
Blue Crimson Red White
CMYK 100-64-0-42 0-95-74-13 0–0–0–0
HEX #003893 #DC143C #FFFFFF
RGB 0-56-147 220-20-60 255-255-255

History

A similar (right) flag used in the Mahabharat; chariot with Krishna and Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war; traditionally the Nepalese monarchs were Hindu and considered the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Nepal (1856–c. 1930)

Historically, triangular shaped flags in South Asia were very common, since it was compact in size so the flag furled even with the lowest wind, thus making it visible over long distances.[citation needed] The traces of triangular flags could be found in Hinduism. The flag's history is vague and there are no specific accounts of its creator. Nepal has historically used both quadrilateral flags as well as non-quadrilateral flags throughout its history.

The flags of almost all states in South Asia were once triangular. A 1928 French book about Nepal shows a double pennant flag with a green border rather than the modern blue. There are other forms of pennant-type flags, mostly used in Hindu and Buddhist temples around Nepal. Many accounts date the creation of the double-pennant to King Prithvi Narayan Shah. The flag of the ancient Gorkha kingdom started off as a single triangular war banner of the Shah kings with a red colour and with various deities and other symbols as symbols in the flag. After Prithvi Narayan Shah unified all small principalities of Nepal, the double-pennon flag became the standard flag. According to some historians, the Rana ruler Jung Bahadur changed the sun and moon symbols into faces of the sun and moon symbolizing the kings as the Rajputs of Lunar dynasty and the Rana themselves as the Rajputs of the Solar dynasty. Nepal has simply maintained its ancient tradition, while every other state has adopted a rectangular or square version in the European vexillological tradition.

The flag of Nepal (1927)

The present flag of Nepal was adopted under the Nepalese constitution adopted on 16 December 1962. The modern flag seems to be a combination of the ancient Mustang Kingdom's flag and the ongoing flag used by the former Gorkha Kingdom. The colour gradients have been adopted from the Mustang Kingdom. Prior to 1962, both symbols on the flag, the sun and moon, had human faces. The constitution dedicated an entire section to the precise size and shape of the flag, since people were drawing it incorrectly. This section is continued even today even though multiple constitutions were introduced in the country during the period.[citation needed]

In May 2008 during the drafting of the new constitution, various political parties demanded changes to the flag's design since it symbolized Hinduism and monarchy, but this proposal was rejected.

Flag used during Nepal-Tibet War, the Nepal-British War and both World Wars


Symbolism

In modern times, the flag's symbolism has evolved to incorporate several meanings. The crimson red indicates the bravery of Nepali people and is the country's national color and the blue border represents peace and harmony. The colors are often found in Nepalese decoration and works of art. A theory is that the two points represented peace and hard work, using the symbols of the moon and sun respectively. Traditionally the flag of Nepal is derived from Hinduism which is common in Hindu cultures. However, the modern and government-sanctioned representation is of Hinduism and Buddhism, the main religions of the country.

The inclusion of the celestial bodies indicates Nepal's permanence and the hope that Nepal will enjoy the same longevity as the Sun and the Moon. The moon also symbolizes the cool weather of the Himalayas, whereas the sun symbolizes the heat and the high temperature of the southern lowlands (Terai). Additionally, the stylized moon represents the calm demeanor and purity of spirit of the Nepali people, while the stylized sun represents their fierce resolve.

Flag layout

Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Nepal (c. 1930—1962)

A precise geometrical description of the Nepalese national flag was specified in Article 5, Schedule 1 of the former constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, adopted on 9 November 1990. Schedule 1 of the Constitution of Nepal, adopted on 20 September 2015, details a specific method of making the national flag of Nepal.

Aspect ratio

When constructed according to the stated geometric construction law, the ratio of the height of the flag to the longest width is an irrational number:

≈ 1:1.21901033… (OEISA230582).

This ratio is the least root of the quartic polynomial

and arises from the addition of the blue border after construction of the red field. The bounding rectangle of the red field alone has the rational aspect ratio 3:4 (=1:1.333…).

Olympic Flag

The flag used for Nepal in the International Olympic Committee protocol manuals

The large-scale production of the Nepal flag is difficult because of its exact proportions and it is normal for it to be completely out of shape during large events. In specific cases, such as what happens at the Olympics, it is normal for the flag to be printed on a white cloth. The current Olympic protocol determines that all flags used during the Games have to be manufactured in a 2:3 ratio. An example is the Nepalese flags used during the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the flag design was placed on rectangular cloth the same shape as other flags at the Olympics, with the rest of the flag left white. Specifically, this measure was taken to prevent the flags that were arranged in a standard way from tearing or being destroyed by weather events such as rain or extreme solar radiation.

Incorrect versions

During a 2018 visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Janakpur, a version of the flag with incorrect shape and geometrical proportions was flown by officials, causing outrage on social media and with national personnel.

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-02-21 01:17 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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