Nepal has the world’s only national flag that is not quadrilateral, consisting of two joined pennants.
The flag’s unusual shape combines two triangular forms, traditionally associated with the flags of the Rana dynasty and earlier Nepalese rulers. Its crimson red color is Nepal’s national color, while the blue border symbolizes peace and harmony.
The upper pennant contains a stylized moon and the lower pennant contains a sun. Before 1962, the celestial symbols included human facial features; the modern design removed those faces when the flag was standardized. The sun and moon also express the hope that Nepal will endure as long as these celestial bodies.
Nepal’s constitution specifies the flag’s geometric construction in considerable detail, including proportions, colors and the process for drawing the symbols. Because the flag has two points and no four-sided outline, it is unique among sovereign states’ national flags.