Nepal wants to paint Mount Everest pink with a campaign urging gay honeymooners to take a trek through the Himalayas.

Cheered by scores of wedding guests, two gay men exchanged garlands of marigold today in the first public same-sex marriage in tradition-bound Nepali society.

Flamboyant singer Elton John has donated $45,000 (€37,300) to help Nepal's fight against the HIV virus.