Kathmandu, February 17:

Around 1,000 protesters rallied in the capital today to demand that the country revert to being a Hindu state after the government declared the country secular.

Nepal was the world’s only Hindu nation until the government declared it a secular country only last year.

The protesters, who included sadhus, chanted “Hindus unite — declare Nepal a Hindu state” as they marched into the heart of the city.

Police estimated the crowd at about 1,000.

“Our peaceful protests will continue until Nepal reverts back into a Hindu state,” said Bharat Keshar Singh, chairman of the World Hindu Federation, who was leading the protest.

Earlier this week, the government tightened security after reports of plans by Hindu fundamentalists to organise protests to demand that Nepal return to being a Hindu state during Mahashivaratri which wound up Friday. The protest went off peacefully.