National symbols of Nepal

Overview of the national symbols of Nepal

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Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by two countries: China by the north and India by the east, west and south.[1][2] It borders the Himalayas including the highest peak, Mount Everest, which is also the highest point on Earth.[3] The Government of Nepal had officially adopted several national symbols such as Nepali as the language, the national flag featuring the Himalayas (removed in 1962) with the Sun and the Moon, rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum) as the national flower, crimson as the national colour, the Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus) as the national bird, and cow as the national animal.[4]

## Flag

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Flag of Nepal

Main article: Flag of Nepal

The national flag of Nepal (Nepali: नेपालको झण्डा) is the world's only national flag without four corners (non-quadrilateral).[5] The flag is a simplified combination of two single pennons, the vexillological word for a pennant. Its crimson red is the colour of the rhododendron, the country's national flower. Red is also the sign of victory in war. The blue border is the colour of peace. Until 1962, the flag's emblems, the sun and the crescent moon, had human faces. They were removed to modernize the flag.[6]

## Emblem

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The national emblem of Nepal is a pictorial combination of the Himalayas featuring Mount Everest, the green valleys, yellow fields, hands clasping between male and female, surrounded by rhododendron arranged in circle. The national flag is seated on top of the central circle. The modern emblem was introduced in 2020.[7]

## Sport

[edit]

Volleyball is the national sport of Nepal.[8] Previously, dandi biyo, a stick game was considered to be de facto national game. However, in 2017, the government of Nepal announced volleyball as the national sport.[9]

## Animal

[edit]

### Cow

[edit]

In 2015, Nepal declared cow as its national animal. The first president Ram Baran Yadav officially approved it on 20 September.[10]

### Bird

[edit]

The national bird is the Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus), which is one of several pheasants found in the Himalayas. It is also adopted by the neighbouring Uttarakhand in India as its state bird.[11]

### Yeti

[edit]

Main article: Yeti

Yeti is a purported ape-like animal that inhabits the Himalayan mountain range. In Western popular culture, the creature is commonly referred to as the Abominable Snowman. It is a major element of mythical animal in Nepal and the neighbouring Bhutan.[12][13][14] Although it is not the official national animal, it has been used as the symbols of several events and places in Nepal. There are Yeti Airlines[15] and Hotel Yak and Yeti in Kathmandu.[16] It was used as an official mascot of the Visit Nepal 2020 tourism programme.[17][18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "India and China: How Nepal's new map is stirring old rivalries". BBC. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
2. ^ Tsering, Dawa (2022-07-12). "Border Villages in Tibet: Why India should be Wary of China's New 'Eyes and Ears' in Himalaya". tibet.net. Central Tibetan Administration. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
3. ^ "Mount Everest". education.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
4. ^ "National Symbols of Nepal". Shikshasanjal.
5. ^ "National Flag of Nepal".
6. ^ Smith, Whitney (2013). "Flag of Nepal | Meaning, Colors & Facts". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
7. ^ Michail, Efthymiou (2024). "National Symbols of Nepal". Geographies.gr. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
8. ^ "History of volleyball, Nepal's national sport, in 5 points - OnlineKhabar English News". Retrieved 2022-02-20.
9. ^ Sen, Sandeep (2017-05-24). "Volleyball declared national game". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
10. ^ "Nepal declares Cow as its National animal". India Today. 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
11. ^ "All About The Himalayan Monal | Nature inFocus". www.natureinfocus.in. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
12. ^ Haviland, Charles (1 December 2007). "'Yeti prints' found near Everest". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
13. ^ Lawson, Alastair (25 July 2008). "'Yeti hair' to get DNA analysis". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
14. ^ Sullivan, Tim (10 August 2008). "Losing the yeti in the forgotten nation of Butan". The Victoria Advocate. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
15. ^ "Nepal blames pilot error for January crash that killed 72". The Economic Times. 2023-12-29. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
16. ^ "Hotel Yak & Yeti". Hotel Association Nepal. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
17. ^ Times, Nepali (2020-01-29). "Love it or hate it, it's abominable". Nepali Times. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
18. ^ Pariyar, Kamal (2020-01-28). "Visit Nepal's yeti: How mythical creature divided Himalayan nation". BBC. Retrieved 2024-11-19.

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