Kathmandu, Mar. 4: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev graced the Feu-de-joie held at the Royal Nepal Army pavilion, Tundikhel by the Royal Nepal army today on the occasion of Mahashivaratri and Army Day.

Hrh the Crown Prince is Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Nepal Army.

On the occasion a 2l-gun salute was presented to hrh the Crown Prince.

At the function, hrh the Crown Prince presented the King’s banner to company commander major Taradhoj Pande of Sri Indradhoj Company which won first place in the company Level King’s Banner Competition Of 2055 Bikram year.

Hrh the Crown Prince also decorated officers and other ranks who were conferred various orders, decorations and medals on the occasion of the auspicious 55th birthday of His Majesty the King.

Hrh the Crown Prince presented prizes to the pair of Indian military attache major Alok Kacker who won first  place in the guest item and to the pair of colonel Esnar of Israel who won second place.

Hrh the Crown Prince likewise awarded prizes to major Tek Bahadur Singh who was first in the free fall para jump and Subedar Tul Bahadur Dura who placed second.

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was present on the occasion.

Also present were the Chief Justice, the Speaker, the chairman of the National Assembly, the chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee, the Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, MPs, heads of constitutional bodies, officials from diplomatic missions, and other high ranking officials and distinguished individuals.

During the function the Indradhoj Company put on a drill display while the first rifle battalion opened successive, salvo and individual fire.

Various martial arts were also displayed.

People thronged Tundikhel to see the hour and half long programme.