KATHMANDU: Nepal is marking the 15th Republic Day today as it has completed 14 years since it was announced.

The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) elected on the foundation of the People’s movement in 2062/63 BS had declared Nepal as the Federal Democratic Republic on May 28, 2008, ending a 238-year-long Shah dynasty.

One and a half decades have elapsed since the establishment of the Republic but no significant changes have taken place in the country as had been expected.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari attended a ceremony organized on the occasion of 15th Republic Day at the Nepal Army Pavilion, Tundikhel, on Sunday.

Also present at the program were Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Acting Chief Justice Deepak Kumar Karki, Speaker of House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota, National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, office-bearers of constitutional bodies and representatives of diplomatic missions in Nepal, among others.

The ceremony began with the showering of flower petals from a Nepal Army helicopter.

On the occasion, a troop of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force had performed march past and musical performances on patriotic songs.

As informed, different cultural processions and performances did not take place this year due to unfavorable weather conditions.

The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) held on 8 May 2008 abolished Monarchy and proclaimed Nepal to be a federal democratic republic country.