Nepal is observing the 20th Loktantra Day today with nationwide programmes that honour those who lost their lives during the democratic movements and reflect on the country’s political transition over the past two decades.
Events are being held across the country, including tributes to martyrs who contributed to the movement that ended direct royal rule and restored parliamentary democracy in 2006.
The day marks the historic end of the royal takeover under then King Gyanendra Shah, following the 19-day People’s Movement that pushed for the reinstatement of the dissolved parliament. The parliament, which had been dissolved in 2002, was brought back in April 2006 after widespread protests led by a coalition of political parties and supported by the then rebel Maoist movement.
Following the reinstatement, the House of Representatives formally acknowledged the public mandate that placed sovereign power in the hands of the people, setting the stage for a major political shift in the country’s governance system.
The democratic transition continued over the years, culminating in the promulgation of the Federal Democratic Republic Constitution in 2015 through the Constituent Assembly. This marked the formal beginning of federalism in the country.
Since then, Nepal has held multiple rounds of elections, including federal, provincial, and local polls, as part of its evolving democratic framework.
Loktantra Day is now observed annually as both a celebration of democratic achievement and a reminder of the struggles that shaped the current political system. Along with commemorations, discussions and public programmes are being organised to reflect on the progress and challenges of the past twenty years.