NATIONAL flags are a source of pride for the citizens of any country.
But let’s admit it, a lot of them seem to follow the same formula: has four sides, symbols like stars or crescent moons, and bold colours like red and blue.
Is Nepal the only modern country whose flag does not have four sides?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Being that Nepal's national flag is made up of two triangular pennants stacked on top of each other, this Himalayan country has a flag that has five sides!
Historically, triangular flags were quite common within the region.
It’s said that the red on the flag symbolises courage and Nepal’s national flower, the rhododendron arboreum, commonly known as "Lali Gurans" in Nepali.
The blue border represents peace and harmony.
The flag carries two white emblems – a crescent moon with eight visible rays above, and a sun with twelve rays below, both common symbols used in Hinduism, one of Nepal’s major religions.
Before the current flag (designed by Nepalese civil engineer and architect Shankar Nath Rimal) was adopted, the emblems had faces.
There are two other countries that have uniquely shaped flags, namely Switzerland and the Vatican City.
Their flags are square.
References:
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/
