Nepal's rapper-turned politician Balendra Shah was sworn into the country's most powerful office on Friday, a month after he swept the general elections on promises of creating jobs and restoring political stability.
Shah, 35, is now the youngest person to be prime minister of the Himalayan nation in decades, and the first to be prime minister from the Madhesi community — an Indigenous community with strong cultural and linguistic similarities to its neighbor India.
Swearing in ceremony follows Hindu traditions
"I, Balendra Shah, in the name of the country and people, pledge that I will be loyal to the constitution... and fulfil my duty as the prime minister," Shah said, dressed all in black and wearing his trademark dark sunglasses.
President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath at 12:34 p.m. local time — the 1-2-3-4 pattern is deemed auspicious by Hindu priests. With an 80% Hindu population, astrology and numerology is deeply entrenched in Nepal's culture.
Why Nepal's elections matter to India and China
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
In another first, the ceremony was held in a Vedic–Sanatan tradition, according to local media. It featured conch blowing from seven conches, recitations by 108 Batuks (Young Hindu priests) and chants by 108 Buddhist monks.
Crowds cheered and chanted his name after the ceremony. He then went on to announce his Cabinet followed by their swearing-in ceremonies.
Who is Balendra Shah, aka, Balen?
Better known as Balen, Shah was a structural engineer who rose to fame as a rap artist before becoming the mayor of Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu.
He emerged as a prominent voice during the violent youth-led uprising in September, that, frustrated over corruption, chronic instability and lack of economic growth, threw out the old political guard.
Shah attained the post after his party won the first democratic election since deadly protests. His Rastriya Swatantrata Party (RSP) won 182 seats in the 275-member parliament.
Nepal's Gen Z look to reshape their nation's future
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
A day before his oath ceremony, Shah released a rap song on social media. "The strength of unity is my national power," he sang in the song, which has gathered millions of views.
"My heart is full of courage, my red blood is boiling; my brothers stand with me, this time we will rise," the song said.
"The first test of the new government lies in transparent and prompt delivery of services to people, who expect early signs of good governance from Sunday itself," political analyst Puranjan Acharya said.
Sunday is a working day in Nepal.
