KATHMANDU, SEPT 25: Dark clouds gathered over the Dasratha Rangshala this evening as the packed stadium waited for the arrival of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya. Doubts about rain throwing a blanket over proceedings were however dispelled soon after the royal entourage made their entry.And what followed was a enthralling fusion of classical and modern music and a riot of colours as the tiny Himalayan kingdom dished out a warm, traditional welcome for the participants of the eighth South Asian Federation Games today.The opening ceremony started with the dare-devil paratroop jump show by the Royal Nepal Army, And as the spectators looked up in awe, the leader of the troopers, Prajual Bhista realised midway through the jump that his parachute had not opened at all. He cut it loose to open the emergency chute and landed first inside the stadium, a shaken man.Bhista refused to talk about his brush with death, while the show went on. That was the only hitch for the organisers as the dancers and singerswove a magical pattern of melody and colours later in the evening.After His Majesty King Birendra announced the opening of the Games, Nepal marathon runner Baikuntha Manadhar lit the flame that was brought from Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha and the clouds opened up.The rest of ceremony was held amidst mild drizzle which failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the spectators. Nepal's taekwondo player Sabita Raj Bhandari took the oath on behalf of the participants. The highlight of the ceremony was the laser beam show and the fireworks that lighted the Kathmandu sky in various hues of red, yellow and blue.
