- Title: Nepal: Princess Sruti Breaks With Tradition By Choosing To Marry A Commoner
- Date: 3rd May 1997
- Summary: Breaking with tradition Nepal's Princess Sruti Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah has chosen to marry commoner , exercising the Hindu custom of "Swayambar", in which a bride chooses her husband from a group qualified men. Princess Sruti formalized her engagement to Kumar Gorak Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana with elaborate Hindu rites at the Narayanhiti Palace in Katmandhu on May 3.The fifteen minute ceremony, attended by King Bidendra and other members of the Nepalese Royalty, was followed by a two day wedding ceremony held from May 8th to 9th. Princess Sruti exchanged flower garlands with Kumar Rana, marking him as her future groom. The Princess placed a flower garland on Kumar Rana first, applying vermilion to his forehead. Rana sealed the engagement by placing a garland and a gold ring on Princess Sruti. Rana, despite being a relation of a former Prime Minister, is not part of Nepali royalty, and is one of the first commoners to marry a Nepali Princess. Princess Sruti chose Rana from a possible three other grooms. Marriages between commoners and Nepali royalty, though rare, have increased since the reign of King Bidendra.
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- Location: NEPAL KATMANDHU NARAYANTITI PALACE
- Reuters ID: LDL00126KMD8N
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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- Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
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