Flag of Nepal

Meaning and history of the flag of Nepal

Nepal's flag is the only national flag in the world that is neither rectangular nor square. It is made up of two overlapping crimson pennants outlined in blue. The upper pennant contains a white crescent moon with a sun, and the lower pennant features a white twelve-pointed sun. This unique design has endured for centuries and was formalized in the constitution in 1962.

Crimson is Nepal's national color, present in its national flower (the rhododendron) and a symbol of bravery. The blue border represents peace and harmony. The sun and moon express the hope that Nepal will endure as long as these celestial bodies. Historically, the two pennants were said to represent the two branches of the royal family, or alternatively Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions.

Nepal's double-pennant shape is entirely unique in the world and reflects the tradition of Hindu banners from South Asia. Nepal's constitution includes precise mathematical instructions for drawing the flag, with twenty-four detailed steps specifying its exact proportions. When the UN displays the flags of its member states, Nepal's stands out immediately for its unmistakable silhouette among the uniform rectangles of the other nations.

You can view the flag of Nepal in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Nepal profile, its map, or the current local time in Kathmandu.