Ganatantra Diwas (Republic Day) in Nepal

Republic Day (Nepali: गणतन्त्र दिवस) is a special day in the history of Nepal that commemorates the inception of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal on May 29, 2008. The establishment of the republic put an end to civil strife that had lasted for years. To mark this day previously the government of Nepal used to give public holiday but from the year (2018), the government of Nepal has cut off the public holiday.

Modern Nepal was established in 1768, when Prithivi Narayan Shah conquered the Kathmandu Valley and the country colonized by a number of small independent states. In 1846, the Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana founded the Rana dynasty that ruled the country until 1951. The prime minister and other government positions became hereditary and the monarch had no real power.

Dissatisfaction with the Rana regime led to the 1951 revolution which ended the Rana oligarchy. Initially Nepal was a constitutional monarchy, but in 1960 King Mahendra suspended the constitution and became an absolute monarch. When his son Birendra ascended to the throne, he carried out some democratic reforms.

In 1991, the first elected government of Nepal in 32 years was formed. However, the new government’s policy led to an economic crisis. Civil strife of the early 1990s eventually transformed into a full-scale civil war. As a result of the war, Nepal was proclaimed a republic on May 28, 2008. This put an end to the 240-year-old monarchy.

On this occasion, a program being held at the Nepal Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, in the presence of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, as well as other ministers and senior officials. In the same way, the country's security forces present several precision exercises and parades to mark the ceremony. The Nepal Army, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police organize musical performances that evoke patriotism and present the favourite shows of Nepal, Maruni and Kaura. The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, as well as women police officers and army personnel also present their bands. Beside Kathmandu, the Republic day is also celebrated in other parts of the country by organising various events.

On Jestha 15, 2065 of the Nepali calendar, centuries old monarchy had officially come to an end and the country has adopted republicanism as the system of governance. Therefore, this day is observed to commemorate this milestone in the country’s history, from which point onwards the country is known to have taken a crucial step towards becoming a federal democratic republic.