Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka: The Meaning of Nepal's National Anthem

By Mohammad Aamir • 4 min read

Contents

• 1. The Birth of a New Anthem
• 2. Lyrics: Nepali & English Translation
• 3. The True Essence and Meaning
• 4. Historical Context

The Birth of a New Anthem

"Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Nepali: सयौं थुँगा फूलका, meaning "Made of Hundreds of Flowers") is the beautiful national anthem of Nepal. It was officially declared as the national anthem on August 3, 2007, during a special ceremony at the National Planning Commission inside Singha Durbar.

The deeply moving lyrics were written by the poet Pradeep Kumar Rai, widely known by his alias Byakul Maila, and the sweeping musical composition was created by the legendary Amber Gurung. The anthem is praised for its simple yet powerful wording, celebrating Nepal's sovereignty, unity, scenic beauty, and its incredible cultural and biological diversity.

Lyrics: Nepali & English Translation

Below are the official lyrics of the anthem in Nepali, followed by their English translation.

सयौं थुँगा फूलका हामी, एउटै माला नेपाली
सार्वभौम भई फैलिएका, मेची-माहाकाली।

"Woven from hundreds of flowers, we are one garland that's Nepali.
Spread sovereign from Mechi to Mahakali."

प्रकृतिका कोटी-कोटी सम्पदाको आंचल
वीरहरूका रगतले, स्वतन्त्र र अटल।

"Playground for nature's wealth unending,
Out of the sacrifice of our braves, a nation free and unyielding."

ज्ञानभूमि, शान्तिभूमि तराई, पहाड, हिमाल
अखण्ड यो प्यारो हाम्रो मातृभूमि नेपाल।

"A land of knowledge, of peace, the plains, hills and mountains tall,
Indivisible, this beloved land of ours, our motherland Nepal."

बहुल जाति, भाषा, धर्म, संस्कृति छन् विशाल
अग्रगामी राष्ट्र हाम्रो, जय जय नेपाल।

"Of many races, languages, religions, and cultures of incredible sprawl,
This progressive nation of ours, all hail Nepal!"

The True Essence and Meaning

The anthem is not just a song; it is a unifying manifesto for the diverse people of Nepal. Here is a breakdown of its profound meaning:

The Garland of Unity

"We Nepalese, from different lingual, racial, religious or cultural backgrounds are the individual flowers of a whole garland of the Nepali race." We have always been sovereign, and our unity stretches across our entire territory, from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west.

Nature & Sacrifice

Blessed with nature's million gifts and sanctified by the blood sacrificed by our heroes, we remain independent and immovable—standing still with immense pride.

The Indivisible Land

Nepal is a land where knowledge shines. From the peaceful plains (Terai) to the rolling hills and towering mountains, it is our beloved, indivisible motherland. We shall preserve its sovereignty at any cost.

A Progressive Future

Acting as a melting pot of diverse races, numerous languages, and religions, Nepal is deeply rich in culture. We are a progressive people of a progressive nation, and we do not look back—Hail Nepal!

Historical Context

The Democratic Selection Process

Following the unanimous decision on May 19, 2006, by the House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha), the old royalist national anthem was officially suspended.

To find a replacement that truly represented the spirit of the newly democratic nation, the National Anthem Selection Task Team (NASTT) was formed. They received a staggering 1,272 submissions from poets and writers all across the country. On November 30, 2006, they selected Byakul Maila's masterpiece. It was officially approved and adopted in 2007, serving as a beacon of unity for modern Nepal.