Nepal's youngest prime minister, Balendra Shah, was sworn in on Friday at 12:34 p.m., a time chosen for its numerological significance. The ceremony coincided with Ram Navami, a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama.
Hindu priests deemed 12:34 p.m. the most auspicious time based on astrological calculations, noting the '1-2-3-4' pattern. Shah is scheduled to enter his office at 14:15 p.m., another numerically significant time. Such patterns are considered favourable in Nepal, where over 80% of the population is Hindu.
Shah, a 35-year-old structural engineer and former rap artist, leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party. His party secured about two-thirds of the 275 seats in the lower house of Parliament, reflecting public frustration with established parties accused of corruption and instability.
The oath-taking ceremony, held before President Ramchandra Paudel, included Hindu rituals such as conch blowing and chanting by priests and Buddhist lamas. Shah and his newly chosen Cabinet took the oath in the presence of officials and diplomats.
Shah rose to prominence during youth-led protests in September that toppled the government. Although he did not directly participate, he publicly supported the Generation Z demonstrators. His government faces the challenge of addressing deep public discontent with Nepal's political establishment.
