Thousands seek blessings of Nepal's former king

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - About 5,000 people lined up in front of the private home of Nepal's ousted King Gyanendra on Thursday to seek his blessings on an important Hindu festival, his first as a commoner.

The king's loyalists, many of them ministers and senior officials during his absolute rule which ended in 2006, stood in queues for more than an hour to greet Gyanendra on the 10th day of the Dasain festival, when people seek the blessings of elders.

Gyanendra and his wife Komal applied red vermilion paste to the foreheads of people, some on wheelchairs and others with crutches, outside their heavily guarded home in the capital Kathmandu.

"I feel very happy to receive their blessings," said 75-year-old Ripu Sudan Thapa after he greeted the former royal couple, who sat on chairs in front of their home.

Nepal abandoned its 239-year-old monarchy in May and became a republic following a deal with former Maoist rebels to end their decade-long civil war.

Gyanendra left his official palace in June and has since been living in a former hunting lodge outside the Nepali capital.

The Maoist former rebels are now heading a coalition government meant to oversee the preparation of a new constitution and cap a peace process which began in 2006.

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