Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Nepal’s capital on Thursday demanding that the country’s abolished monarchy be restored and that Hinduism regain its status as a state religion.
The rally in Kathmandu brought pro-monarchy supporters back onto the streets at a moment when the country’s political system is already under strain. The demonstration also underscored that the royalist movement, while not in power, still has the ability to mobilize crowds and keep constitutional questions alive.
According to the report from Kathmandu, the crowd chanted for the return of the king and for the former monarch to become head of state again. Supporters waved flags, played drums and marched through the city center, pressing a broader argument that Nepal’s political parties have failed to deliver stability, accountability or clean government.
Just a short distance away, opponents of the royalist rally had gathered to celebrate Republic Day, creating a tense atmosphere that police had to manage carefully. Hundreds of riot officers separated the groups and authorities scheduled the two events at different times to avoid clashes.
The issue is not new. Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008 after years of upheaval, including a mass movement in 2006 that forced King Gyanendra to give up authoritarian rule. The republican settlement replaced the king with a president as head of state, but that constitutional change has never ended debate over the country’s identity or its governing model.
The current campaign also adds a religious demand to the political one. Protesters want Hinduism restored as a state religion, reflecting the way some royalist groups connect the monarchy to a broader vision of national identity. That message appears to resonate with citizens frustrated by corruption, repeated government turnover and the sense that mainstream parties have failed to improve daily life.
The former king has not commented publicly on the renewed calls for his return, and there is no sign that he is close to regaining power. Still, the size of the protest shows that the monarchy question remains a live political symbol in Nepal rather than a closed chapter.
The rally’s significance lies less in any immediate constitutional prospect than in its reminder that Nepal’s post-monarchy order has not fully settled the country’s politics. For the government, the challenge is not only managing crowds in the capital, but also addressing the grievances that keep royalist sentiment from fading.
