A few days ago, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala threatened UCPN-Maoist leader Prachanda with the fate of former King Gyanendra. Koirala may have meant turning Prachanda powerless.

The event in Nawalparashi shows otherwise. Flanked and welcomed by thousands in the southern border region, former King Gyanendra showed monarchy in Nepal has not lost its cultural and religious glory, nor the respect of the people.

After the removal of monarchy, the former King has lost his political power, but he still retains his glory, respect and prestige in some quarters. Along with its identity, Nepali Congress party, instead, has lost its political power and glory, which it had in the past.

Invited to inaugurate the Gorkhnath temple, former King Gyanendra went to Nawalparasi, a constituency of leader of Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party Hridayesh Tripathi, in a car. Escorted by youths, former King Gyanedra received a warm welcome while on the way to the terai district.

Last month, former King received the same kind of a grand welcome when he visited Kaski, Parbat, and Syangja and received a warm welcome on his way to Pokhara and back home to Kathmandu.

Although monarchy is an institution which does not contest the elections and its base is not on the popular vote like the president of the republican state, monarchy always retains the glory and majesty and the institution has very much the attachment with the people. This is what he is getting.