Nepal’s flag: The unique flag in the world

Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia and home to the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Nepal’s flag is the only non-quadrilateral national flag in the world. Our flag acts as both the state flag and the civil flag of a sovereign nation. It has been dubbed one of the best and most mathematical flag in the world. But it also has some importance and meaning. So what is the meaning of the Nepal flag?

But first to start with the history of Nepal’s flag:

The flag was first adopted after the first king of united Nepal, Prithvi Narayan Shah. He unified all small areas of Nepal. The flag’s meaning has changed and has a different meaning in this time of modernization. The designer of the Nepali flag is still unknown but it is believed the Ranas might have been designed Nepal’s flag. Nepal adopted this flag officially on December 16, 1962, and it is the only national flag in the world that is not a quadrilateral. 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.

Meaning of Nepal’s flag:

Photo: Nepal Sanctuary Treks

Nepal’s flag consists of three colors: blue, crimson red, and white. The blue color denotes the symbol of peace and harmony, while crimson red symbolizes the color of the rhododendron (national flower of Nepal). This color also reflects the glory and bravery of our Gorkhali ancestors. The white color symbolizes the sun and the moon. The two triangles represent two major religions of the nation: Hinduism and Buddhism.

Symbol of the flag:

Nepal’s flag is shaped like two triangles denoting the symbol of the Himalayan mountains. The depiction of celestial bodies represents permanence and the hope that Nepal will last as long as the Sun and the Moon do.

These celestial bodies represent many different meanings. Some believe that the Moon on the flag symbolizes that the Nepali are calm whereas the Sun symbolizes fierceness. It is also believed that the Moon symbolizes the pleasant weather of the Himalayas, where the Sun symbolizes the heat and the higher temperatures in the lower-lying areas of Nepal.

As observed by the locals of the flag’s symbols is that the flag shape is believed to symbolize as a Nepali pagoda. Placing a mirror at the hoist side can generate an image of a pagoda.

How to make Nepal’s flag properly?

Photo: Nepal Sanctuary Treks

To make the national flag of Nepal, first, draw a lower portion of crimson cloth to draw a line AB of the required length from left to right. Then draw a line AC from A to AB and make AC equal to AB add one third AB. Now mark D by making line AD equal to line AB. Then join B and D. Mark off E from BD making BE equal to AB. Touching E, draw a line FG, starting from the point F on line AC, parallel to AB to right-hand-side. Then, mark FG equal to AB and join C and G.

For the method of making the Moon:

From AB mark off AH making AH equal to one-forth of line AB and starting from H draw a line HI parallel to line AC touching line CG at a point I. Then, CF at J and draw a line JK parallel to AB touching CG at points K. Let L be the point where line JK and HI cut one another. Now, join J and G. Let M be the point where line JG and HI cut one another. With center M and with a distance shortest from M to BD mark off N on the lower portion of line HI. Then Touching M and starting from O, a point on AC, draw a line from left to right parallel to AB.

With center L and radius LN draw a semi-circle on the lower portion and let P and Q be the points where it touches the line OM respectively. Keeping center M and radius MQ, draw a semi-circle on the lower portion touching P and Q. With center N and radius NM draw an arc touching PNQ at R and S. Join RS. Let T be the point where RS and HI cut one another. With center T and radius TS draw a semi-circle on the upper portion of PNQ touching it at two points. With center T and radius TM draw an arc on the upper portion of PNQ touching at two points. Make eight equal and similar triangles of the Moon in the space lying inside the semi-circle of NO, and outside the arc of N.

Method of making the Sun:

Bisect line AF at U, and draw a line UV parallel to AB line touching line BE at V. With center W, the point where HI and UV cut one another and radius MN draw a circle. With center W and radius, LN draws a circle. Make twelve equal and similar triangles of the Sun in the space enclosed by the circles of NO, with the two apexes of two triangles touching line HI.

Method of making the border:

The width of the border will be equal to the width TN. This will be of deep blue color and will be provided on all the sides of the flag. However, on the five angles of Nepal’s flag, the external angles will be equal to the internal angles. The above mentioned border will be provided if the flag is to be used with a rope.

On the other hand, if it is to be hoisted on a pole, the hole on the border on the side AC can be extended according to requirements. Explanation: The lines HI, RS, FE, ED, JG, OQ, JK, and UV are imaginary. Similarly, the external and internal circles of the sun and the other arcs except the crescent moon are also imaginary. These are not shown on the flag.