Coronation of Birendra
Birendra was crowned as the tenth King of Nepal on 24 February 1975, at the age of 29. The coronation was held two years after the death of his father, King Mahendra because the first year was a year of mourning period and the next was considered inauspicious by court astrologers. Representatives from 60 nations attended the ceremony. Ceremony
The coronation was held in Hanuman Dhoka at Kathmandu Durbar Square. All the buildings and temples on main roads were whitewashed and restored. All the hippies and foreign tourists were taken out of the Durbar Square. The coronation was done following Hindu rituals as the King is considered as an incarnation of Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities. Several key rituals were administered by priest privately to the King and Queen only. In a day before coronation a ritual, called Purvanga was performed at Hanuman Dhoka. Birendra sat on a cloth mat in  the courtyard. The ritual involved offering rice, barley and wheat to gods and ancestors while a group of Hindu priests chanted Vinayaka. Then the priests called for ancestral blessings by praying to the planets including Jupiter and Mars. During the prayer, Queen Aishwarya sat beside the King. The next day, a parade of Nepalese military units, musical bands and bagpipes followed by a six horsed carriage, a gift from Queen Elizabeth II, carried the royal couple to Hanuman Dhoka. There, the King was smeared with mud from a dozen locations such as hills, rivers, farms and temples symbolizing that the new king is aware of his land. Then he ritually bathed with cow milk, yogurt, butter and honey. After cleaning, the king moved to sit in the golden throne while the priest chanted sacred Vedic mantras. The king bowed to the royal priest (Raj Guru). The Raj Guru then placed the royal crown on the head of Birendra at the auspicious moment of 8:37 am determined by the court astrologers. The king vowed “I shall tend to the growth of the country, regarding it as God himself. I shall remain alert and active for the sake of my country. I shall be my peoples’ beloved, like the raindrops.” in Sanskrit. cannon salvos were fired to indicate the ceremony had been conducted. Later in the day, king rode an elephant named Prem Prasad draped in velvet cloth, gold and silver and visited temples and places near the palace. Another 22 elephants followed the king carrying the guests. Citizens lined in road to see the king. Crown Prince Dipendra was wearing a military uniform. Notable guests
The guest included representatives from 60 nations. Some of them were:
 Philip W. Buchen, counsel of US President Ford 
 Charles H. Percy, Senator from lillinois, US 
 Carol C. Laise, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, US
 Prince Charles, UK
 Crown Prince Akihito, Japan
 Sir John Kerr, Governor General of Australia
 William Gopallawa, President of Sri Lanka
 Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry, President of Pakistan
 B. D. Jatti, Vice President of India
 Imelda Marcos, wife of Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos
 Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, UK
 Lord Mountbatten, UK
 Prince Henrik of Denmark
 Vong Savang, Crown Prince of Laos

Significances 
The attendance of the Indian Vice President, B. D. Jatti, instead of the Indian President, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, was seen as a move against the protest in Nepal when India took over the Kingdom of Sikkim. See also
 Coronation of the Nepalese monarch

References

External links
 Nepal: King Birendra Crowned as Monarch of World's Only Hindu Kingdom. Reuters. 1975. British Pathe. Nepalese monarchs
1975 in Nepal
Coronations by monarchy
February 1975 events in Asia
Ceremonies in Nepal
1975 establishments in Nepal