KATHMANDU, Jan. 9: The Auspicious Annaprasan (rice feeding ceremony) of His Royal Highness Nava Yuvaraj Hridayendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was held amidst a special function according to the Vedic tradition at the Naryanhity Royal Palace today.
His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj was fed rice for the first time by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah at the auspicious moment of 10.05 a.m. amidst Vedic rituals at the Narayanhity Royal Palace.
His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj was fed rice by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev on the occasion.
His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj was also fed rice by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ratna Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah on the occasion.
His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah also fed rice to His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj on the occasion.
His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj was also fed rice by other members of the Royal Family on that occasion.
On the occasion, a 21 gun salute was presented in honour of His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj. Auspicious tune was played along with musical band on the occasion of the Annaprasan.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand greeted His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj by offering a coin as per the tradition.
Acting Chief Justice, the Speaker, Chairman of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee, ministers and heads of the constitutional bodies also greeted His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj by offering a coin.
Chief of the Army Staffs, Inspector General of Police, Inspector General of Armed Police Force, senior officials of the Royal Palace, high level government officials and journalists also had a “Darshan” of His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj on the occasion.
His Royal Highness the Nava Yuvaraj was born on July 30, 2002 at the Narayanhity Royal Palace.
Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Navayuvaraj Hridayendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, this afternoon, had a Darshan of Kathmandu Ganeshthan and went around the temple on the occasion of His Royal Highness’ Annaprasan or rice feeding ceremony.
HRH the Navayuvaraj was carried by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand from the four horse carriage and taken for the Darshan and circumambulation of the temple.
HRH the Navayuvaraj was dressed in ornamented red velvet.
His Royal Highness was offered the Prasad of various deities including Ganesh, Taleju Bhavani and Kal Bhairav.
His Royal Highness also had a Darshan of the Mahakal Bhairav.Brahmins chanted from the Vedic scriptures when His Royal Highness visited the Ganesh Temple and the other temples and Devi Peeths and returned to the Royal Palace. The route taken by His Royal Highness was from the main gate of the Royal Palace past the Mahendra statue, the clock tower (Ghantaghar), Ratnapark, Mahakaalsthan, New Road Gate, the Juddha Statue, Kathmandu Ganesthan and Hanuman Dhoka, and back via New Road to Narayanhiti Royal Palace.
The carriage with His Royal Highness was accompanied by cavalry, the Guruju platoon, a Panchebaja musical band, other cultural bands, Dev and Devi dancers and band music.
The Prime Minister, the Acting Chief Justice, the Speaker, the National Assembly Chairman and the Rajparishad Standing Committee Chairman were also in the procession.
Likewise, high ranking officials of the Royal Palace service, the Chief of the Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Inspector General of the Armed Police, the Nayab Badagurujyu and heads of constitutional bodies were in the procession. Salvos were fired when the procession commenced.
Innumerable men, women and children, who had lined up on both sides of the road for hours, greeted HRH the Navayuvaraj with applause on the way from Narayanhiti Royal Palace to Kathmandu Ganeshthan and Hanumandhoka.The route was decorated with national flags and other colourful flags and banners.
On return to the Royal Palace, Prime Minister Chand placed HRH the Navayuvaraj on an elephant with velvet Hauda.Prime Minister Chand then placed His Royal Highness on horseback and then on a decorated palanquin.
Their Majesties the King and Queen, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and other members of the Royal Family had bid farewell and welcomed HRH the Navayuvaraj when he left the Royal Palace and later returned.