Funeral for Late Nepali King Performed

Funeral for Late Nepali King Performed

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The religious funeral for late Nepali King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya was performed from 21:00 p.m. to 22:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.

Hinduism rituals were performed by Brahamans, Hindus of the first order who perform religious ceremonies, at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu before the bodies of the king, queen, Prince Nirajan, Princess Shruti and princess's daughter were burnt by the side of the Bagamati River.

Gun solute began to shoot when the king's body was set on fire. Altogether 56 (the figure of king's age) shots would be fired, one shot every one minute.

After about two hours burning, the ashes of the bodies will be pushed into the Bagamati River, which is considered by the Hindus the holy river and will take the soul of the dead to the heaven.

Before the rituals were performed, last tributes were paid to the royal couple and their son Prince Nirajan at the Army Hospital Chhauni where the bodies of the royal family were kept since last night.

Nepali Prime Minister Girija Koirala, Deputy Prime Minister Ram Poudel, other cabinet ministers, officials, member of parliaments and army officers as well as foreign envoys in Nepal presented flower to late king and queen.

A funeral procession, joined in by the prime minister, deputy prime minister , cabinet ministers and other officials and escorted by the three armies and police formation, began from the Army Hospital and ended at about 21:00 p.m. local time at the Pashupatinath Temple.

The whole Kathmandu valley turned out to pay last respect for late king and queen. The main roads of the capital, through which the procession went, were lined with thick wall of people. Sadness was read on everyone's face and some women were weeping.

The people lining the streets threw flowers on the bodies of the royal family when the procession arrived and the procession was followed by several kilometers of grieved and angry people.

The king, queen, Prince Nirajan and Princess Shruti together with the princess's daughter died on Friday night, the Royal Palace announced earlier Saturday.

No reason was given for the reason of the royal family's death by the Royal Palace.

Earlier reports said that Crown Prince Dipendra, 30, shot the family dead due to disputes over his marriage. Queen Aishwarya is reportedly opposed to Dipendra's choice of bride.

Dipendra is reported to have shot himself and is seriously injured. Unconfirmed sources said altogether 11 members of the royal family were killed.