KATHMANDU, Nepal–Ex-king Gyanendra Shah will not offer Tika to citizens on the 10th day of Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) on Friday, October 3. According to a press statement, Shah, who recently survived a heart attack, will take rest during the festival as per his doctors’ advice.
He will, however, visit the holy shrines of Goddess Durga on the eighth day of the festival known as Maha Asthami.
The ex-monarch used to offer Tika to citizens every year until last Dashain.
Shah had suffered from a mild heart attack a week ago but was out of danger after receiving angioplasty and stent to fix the blocked coronary artery.
Gyanedra was the last king to rule Nepal before the Constitution Assembly put an end to the centuries-old monarchy from the Himalayan nation and turned the country into a republic.
He was crowned as king in 2001 after the assassination of his elder brother Birendra Bira Bikram Shah Dev in palace massacre. Gyanendra remained mostly unpopular during his brief reign.