Flag of Nepal

The flag of Nepal is a special concave pentagonal flag with red, white, and blue colors. It is used as both the state and civil flag of Nepal and is the only non-rectangular national flag in the world. Its unique shape looks like two single pennants joined together, known as a double-pennon.

The red color stands for bravery and Nepal's national flower, the rhododendron, while the blue border represents peace. The current flag was adopted on 16 December 1962 when Nepal formed a new constitutional government. Shankar Nath Rimal, a civil engineer, helped make the flag look the way it does today at the request of King Mahendra. The design comes from older traditional flags but was updated by removing human faces from the sun and crescent moon symbols.

History

Further information: List of flags of Nepal

Historically, triangular flags were popular in South Asia because they were compact and could be seen from far away even in low wind. Nepal has used many different flag shapes over time, including both rectangular and non-rectangular designs. The current flag of Nepal was officially adopted on December 16, 1962, and combines elements from ancient flags of the Mustang Kingdom and the Gorkha Kingdom. The colors and symbols on the flag have deep historical meaning, though the exact origins of the design are not fully known.

Symbolism

The flag of Nepal uses red, white, and blue. The deep red color shows the bravery of the Nepali people and is the country’s national color. The blue border stands for peace and harmony. The flag also includes symbols of the moon and the sun. Many people believe the moon stands for calm and purity, while the sun stands for hard work and strength.

For a long time, rulers in Nepal used triangular banners linked to their Hindu faith. Today, some think the moon and sun on the flag represent Nepal’s two main religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. The moon and sun also show the hope that Nepal will last as long as these celestial bodies. The moon is linked to the cool mountains of the Himalayas, and the sun to the warm lowlands of the Terai.

Flag layout

A precise geometrical description of the Nepalese national flag was specified in the former constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal and in the Constitution of Nepal. The flag has a special shape and size that follow exact rules.

When made using these rules, the flag’s height compared to its widest part is a special number that cannot be written as a simple fraction. This number comes from the way the flag is designed, especially the thin blue border around the main red part. Without the blue border, the red part alone would have a simpler ratio of 3:4.

Non-standard versions

The flag of Nepal has a unique shape that makes it tricky to use in some big events. For example, in the Olympic Games, most flags need to be rectangles, but Nepal’s flag is allowed to keep its special shape. In some past Olympics, people printed the flag on a white background to make it fit a rectangle.

Once, in 2018, when an important leader from India visited Janakpur, someone flew a version of the flag that had the wrong shape. This upset many people online and in Nepal.