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Interim Head of State Receives Blessing
BY KTM Reporter
On September 30, 2007, following the tradition of the Head of State receiving the blessing of the Living Goddess Kumari, Interim Head of State Girija Prasad Koirala went to the Goddess’ abode called Kumarighar at Basantapur, Kathmandu and received ‘tika’ – blessing from the Living Goddess Kumari on the concluding day of Indra Jatra festival. By tradition and belief, the Living Goddess Kumari possess the people’s sovereignty and transfers it to the Head of State once a year giving the ‘tika’ to the reigning Head of State. Therefore, Koirala as the Interim Head of State is the right person to receive the blessing from the Living Goddess Kumari.
Two hours after the Interim Head of State received the blessing from the Living Goddess Kumari and returned to his official residence, suspended King Gyanendra showed up at Basantapur, and quietly went to the Goddess and offered a gold coin and then received blessing from the goddess.
After the official ceremony of the head of State receiving the blessing from the Living Goddess Kumari, receiving the blessing from the goddess is opened to the public in general. So, Gyanendra received the blessing from the goddess as any person did on that day.
However, Interim Head of State and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was furious with Gyanendra at his taking the blessing from the goddess without informing him, and demanded explanations from his principal secretary, Pashupati Bhakta Maharjan the next day.
Prime Minister Koirala holding the portfolio of the Defense Minister called the Chief of Army Staff, Rukumgad Katuwal and ordered him to cut the army posted at the palace for the security of the king by a half. It remains to be seen whether this order would be honored, and how powerful is the suspended king.
