Kathmandu: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev received the sacred thread (Nutan Yagyopavit) at the auspicious hour of 9:26 a.m. at Narayanhity Royal Palace on the occasion of Rishi Tarpani Janai Purnima today.

On the occasion, His Majesty was sprinkled with holy water (Abhishek) amid the chanting of Vedic hymns.

A thirty-one gun salute boomed in the air.

Their Majesties the King and Queen also received the sacred amulets, Rakshya Bandhan, from Bada Gurujyu Keshari Raj Pandey, Mool Purohit Ramesh Prasad Pandey and other purohits.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev also received the sacred thread (Nutan Yagyopavit) and Rakshya Bandhan on the occasion.

His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah also received the sacred thread as well as Rakshya Bandhan on the same occasion.