The
flag of Nepal is the only national flag which
is not rectangular, being based upon two separate
pennants which belonged to rival branches
of the Rana dynasty, which formerly ruled
the country. The two pennants were first joined
in the last century, but it was not adopted
as the official flag until 1962, when a constitutional
form of government was established.
The moon in the upper part represents the
royal house. The sun in the lower part symbolizes
a branch of the Rana family, members of which
acted as prime ministers until 1961.
The charges are now said to represent the
hope that Nepal itself will last as long as
the sun and the moon. The style of these heavenly
bodies was streamlined on December 16, 1962.
The coat of arms still portrays these charges
with facial features. Crimson is deemed the
national color.
Motto on their coat of arms: "The mother
and the Mother Earth are more important than
the heavenly kingdom."