The Mysterious Secrets Behind the World’s Weirdest National Flag

Beyond its unusual shape, Nepal’s flag is a bit of a mystery، The flag represents the movement of the heavens, modern nation-building, Buddhist and Hindu heritage, Asian pride, political maneuvering, or a combination of all of these.

The flag is easily recognizable as it consists of two equal-legged crimson triangles, decorated with a dark blue border, and two white shapes representing the sun (on the lower half) and the moon (on the upper half).

“This particular shape is not unique to Nepal. It has a long and deep history in South Asia and the Indian subcontinent,” says one Nepali.

“We were taught in school that the sun and moon represent the eternity of the nation, and that the triangles represent the mountains (Himalayas) for which Nepal is famous. As a historian, I think the best and most compelling explanation is to see these symbols as representing those ancient and famous mythical dynasties to which the region’s ruling elites often traced their lineage.”

Some people believe that the red color symbolizes Nepal’s national flower, the rhododendron, while others say it symbolizes war and courage.

Before democracy was established in Nepal, in the early 1990s and again in 2008, most ordinary Nepalis were forbidden from flying flags in their homes.

“National flags were only flown and could only be displayed in government places,” explains Rupakhetty. “There were definitely very strict guidelines, not just about the shape and size, but also about when, how and who could fly the flag. But that gradually began to change as the democratic experience took hold. Now the flag is everywhere.”

The Nepalese flag is one of the most popular flags among flag lovers, who call themselves “flag nerds” or “vexillologists.”

The history and shape of the flag make it a popular topic of discussion, says Ted Kay, secretary of the North American Society of Flagology.