Kathmandu, July 07: Nepal on Sunday celebrated the birthday of King Gyanendra — the first monarch from the Shah dynasty to reach the age of 56.
To mark the occasion 154 prisoners were released from jails around the country, state-run radio said.
A part of the royal palace in Kathmandu was thrown open for thousands of well-wishers to present flowers and messages of congratulations to the king in person.

All 11 kings of the Shah dynasty, which has provided the monarchs of the Himalayan kingdom since the 18th century, have died before the age of 56.
In June last year Gyanendra's brother King Birendra was shot dead at the age of 55 along with eight other royals by his son crown prince Dipendra.

Early on Sunday, which was declared a national holiday, a 31-cannon salute was fired while soldiers blew bugles from the balcony of Kathmandu's tallest landmark, a 50 m high tower. Bureau Report