the national flag of Nepal is the world’s only national flag

that is non-quadrilateral in shape. 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. The faces remained on the sun and the moon on

the Royal Standard until the abolition of the monarchy in the Royal Standard until the abolition of the monarchy in

2008. the flag was adopted, with the formation of a new

constitutional government, on December 16,1962. the

individual pennants had been used for the preceding two

centuries and the double pennant since the 19th century. The

flag borrows the basic design from the original design,

which has been in use for more than 2,000 years.

In Nov. 1990, King Birendra promulgated a new

constitution and introduced a multiparty

parliamentary democracy in Nepal. Under

pressure amid massive pro-democracy protests

in April 2006, King Gyanendra gave up direct

rule and reinstated Parliament, which then rule and reinstated Parliament, which then

quickly moved to diminish the King's power. In

Dec. 2007, Parliament voted to abolish the

monarchy and become a federal democratic

republic. The transition to a republic was

completed in May 2008, when the Constituent

Assemby voted to dissolve the monarchy.

Head of government is the chief officer of the

executive branch of a government, often

presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary

system, the head of government is often styled

prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc. In

presidential republics or absolute monarchies,

the head of government may be the same

person as the head of state, who is often called

In semi-presidential systems, the Head of

Government may answer to both the Head of

State and the legislative power (such as

parliament). An example is the French Fifth

Republic (1958–present), where the Président person as the head of state, who is often called

respectively a president or a monarch.Republic (1958–present), where the Président

de la République appoints a Prime Minister but

must choose someone who can get

government business through, and has the

support of, the National Assembly. When the

opposition controls the National Assembly

(and thus government funding and most

legislation), the President is in effect forced to

choose a Prime Minister from the opposition;

in such cases, known as cohabitation, the

government controls internal state policy, with

the President restricted largely to foreign

affairs.

A president is a leader of an organization, A president is a leader of an organization,

company, trade union, university, or country.

Etymologically, a president is one who

presides, who sits in leadership (from Latin

pre- "before" + sedere "to sit"; giving the term

praeses). Originally, the term referred to the

presiding officer of a ceremony or meeting

(i.e., chairman), but today it most commonly

refers to an official. Among other things,

president today is a common title for the heads

of state of most republics, whether popularly

elected, chosen by the legislature or by a

special electoral college.

An isolated, agrarian society until the mid-20th

century, Nepal entered the modern era in 1951

without schools, hospitals, roads,

telecommunications, electric power, industry,

or civil service. The country has, however,

made progress toward sustainable economic

growth since the 1950s and is committed to a

program of economic liberalization.

Nepal has used a series of five-year plans in an

attempt to make progress in economic attempt to make progress in economic

development. It completed its ninth economic

development plan in 2002; its currency has

been made convertible, and 17 state

enterprises have been privatized. Foreign aid

accounts for more than half of the

development budget. Government priorities

over the years have been the development of

transportation and communication facilities,

agriculture, and industry. Since 1975, improved

government administration and rural

development efforts have been emphasized.

In a spillover from the East Asian currency

turmoil, Nepal

experienced an economic recession in 1998.

The country’s

economic planners projected the gross

domestic product to

expand by 5% in fiscal year 1998-99, and the

consumer price

index to rise at an annual rate of 13% (Far index to rise at an annual rate of 13% (Far

Eastern Economic

Review, 1998). A budget deficit of $325.9

million was realized

for the fiscal year. The Government hoped to

raise $79.32

million additional revenue from proposed new

taxes and full

implementation of the value-added tax and

administrative

reforms. Tariffs were increased for petroleum

products but

lowered for fertilizers.

Nepal's economic development depends

critically on natural resources that are fragile

and being rapidly degraded. In Nepal, the links

between poverty, economic incentives,

institutional weaknesses in government, and

the destruction of land, water resources, and

forests are more starkly visible than in

countries where environmental damage is not,

or not yet, so severe. A new OED study

analyzes the projects, policies, and institutional

reforms that have affected the management of reforms that have affected the management of

Nepal's natural resources over 25 years (1966-

89).

The study finds that despite $4.5 billion of aid

for projects affecting natural resources, Nepal

still has worsening environmental problems

and no effective strategy to address them. The

Bank's own assistance has done little to

promote better natural resource management

except within the sphere of the individual

projects it has financed

Dasain (Bijaya Dasami):- This is the

biggest and most widely celebrated

national Hindu festival in Nepal,

usually falling in early October.

It begins with Ghatsthapana. Of the two full

weeks of celebrations, the 8th, 9th and 10th

are the most eventful and auspicious days. The

main deity worshipped during Dashain is

Goddess Durga. On the 9th day, thousands of

devotees visit important Durga temples to

This is the festival of lights which falls late

October or early November. The celebrations

continue for five days. It is an annual festival

celebrated in the bright blue days of autumn.

The festivals and Holidays begin with the

worship of crows, followed by the worshiping

of dogs on the 2nd day. On the 3rd day, Laxmi,

the goddess of wealth, is worshipped. On the

5th day, one's own soul is worshipped. Sisters

also worship their brothers on this day. This is worship her. The tenth day is climax day.

People visit to seniors for Tika (blessings).

Tihar (Deepavali/Diwali):- This is another

Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal and as well

as India.

also worship their brothers on this day. This is

called Bhai Tika, and is a great day and the

grand finale to Tihar.

Mani Rimdu: - It is one of the most fascinating

High Himalayan Buddhist festivals observed

every year, usually in November. Tengboche,

the world's highest monastery located in Solu

Khumbu district of Nepal, is the focal point for

the celebration of this festival. The main

attraction of this festival is the various masked

dances of religious significance.

Losar: - It is one of the greatest festivals of

Shiva Ratri: - Shivaratri or the night of Lord

Shiva, is observed in March. It is celebrated in

honor of Lord Shiva. A great religious fair takes

places in the Pashupatinath Temple and

thousands of people from all over Nepal and

India visit the temple.

Other then these main festivals and holidays,

Nepal has lot of small festivals such as New

Year's Day, Matatirtha Aaunsi, Rath Yatra,

Ghanta Kharna, Guru Poornima, Naga significant importance to the Sherpas and

people of Tibetan origin. It is celebrated every

year around mid February. The focus of this

festival centers its celebration of the Tibetan

New Year. Many fascinating rituals and

celebrations may be observed in Boudha and

in Tibetan settlements such as the Tibetan

Refugee Camp at Jawlakhel, Patan, Pokhara.

Buddha Jayanti: - Celebrating the birth of Lord

Buddha in the first week of May.

Ghanta Kharna, Guru Poornima, Naga

Panchami, Janai Purnia, Gaijatra, Krishna

Asthami, Indra Jatra, Constitution Day, Ghode

Jatra, Prithivi Jayanti, National Democracy Day

etc.

NEPAL IS ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES

in the world and was listed as the eleventh

poorest among 121 countries in 1989.

Estimates of its per capita income for 1988

ranged from US$158 to US$180. Various

factors contributed to the economic

underdevelopment--including terrain, lack

of resource endowment, landlocked

position, lack of institutions for

modernization, weak infrastructure, and a

Prior to 1951, there were few all-weather

roads, and the transportation of goods was

difficult. Goods were able to reach Kathmandu

by railroad, trucks, and ropeways, but for other

parts of the country such facilities remained

almost non-existent. This lack of infrastructure

made it hard to expand markets and pursue

economic growth. Since 1951 Nepal has tried

to expand its contacts with other countries and

to improve its infrastructure, although the lack modernization, weak infrastructure, and a

lack of policies conducive to development.

Until 1951 Nepal had very little contact with

countries other than India, Tibet, and Britain.

Movement of goods or people from one part

of the country to another usually required

passage through India, making Nepal

dependent on trade with or via India. The

mountains to the north and the lack of

economic growth in Tibet (China's Xizang

Autonomous Region after 1959) meant very

little trade was possible with Nepal's northern

neighbor.

to improve its infrastructure, although the lack

of significant progress was still evident in the

early 1990s. The effects of being landlocked and of having

to transit goods through India continued to

be reflected in the early 1990s. As a result of

the lapse of the trade and transit treaties

with India in March 1989, Nepal faced

shortages of certain consumer goods, raw

materials, and other industrial inputs, a

situation that led to a decline in industrial

production.

Before we went to Nepal, we repeatedly heard

about the country's wonderful population. The

Nepalese are known to be very kind,

sympathetic, and service-minded. Once

committed to their service, this is true. Then

they are very cordial and caring, serving you

like a king. But to get to this point, they are

willing to use just about any method of

persuasion. Often when they see the slightest

opportunity to rip you off, they do it. For a

good reason: You have dollars, they don't. good reason: You have dollars, they don't.

Aggressive salesmen and beggars are

annoying, but I suppose one gets used to it

after a while.

With the extension of the CA deadline for

another three months, our quest of getting a

constitution has once again eluded us. Political

parties that surprised us with coming together

for a common cause of extending the deadline

have reconfirmed our misgivings by resuming

their bickering and fighting from the very next

day. With the continuing political instability

and uncertainty, our quest for a constitution and uncertainty, our quest for a constitution

seems even more elusive. Meanwhile, the lives

of general citizens continue to be as difficult as

ever, inflation remains in double digit,

economy is stagnant and the lives and

properties of citizens continue to be

threatened and forced strikes and shutdowns

are creating havoc in daily lives. In such a

context, it is not surprising that every Nepalese

is looking at the upcoming constitution as the

panacea to all the hardship.