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Culture
Hinduism followed by Buddhism, constitute two major religion of Nepal. Both these
co-religionists are bound together by a sense of fellow-feeling and bonhomie particularly
displayed in their worship of common deities and joint celebration of many festivals
belonging to either religion or culture. Kumari, the Virgin Hindu Goddess, for instance,
is selected from a Buddhist clan.
A remarkable feature of Nepal is the religious homogeneity that exists. Apart from the
Hindus and Buddhists, Muslim form the third largest religious group.
The exquisite architecture and artistic embellishment of the Nepalese pagodas that
enshrine the bronze and stone images of great beauty and, more often than not, treat
antiquity, are a unique feature of Nepal.
The temples and stupas are rich repositories of wood carving, metal work, terracotta and
stone sculpture. In their uniqueness they add glory and grandeur to the cultural scene of
the Kingdom and tell a long history of native genius.
People
Nepal is a melting pot of many races and tribes. She has population of around twenty-two
million, made up of an assortment of races and tribes, living in different regions,
wearing different costumes and speaking different languages and dialects. They live under
quite diverse environmental conditions from the low, nearly sea level plains at the border
of India, northward through the middle hills and valleys and up to the flanks of the great
Himalayan range where there are settlements at altitude of up to 4,800m. Farming practices
are therefore equally diverse along with life styles and social customs.
The high Himalayan
settlements of Tibetan speaking people are found perched precariously on mountain ledges
and slopes. Life here is delicate balance of hard work and social merrymaking, tempered by
a culture deeply steeped in ancient religious traditions. The best known of the high
mountain peoples are the Sherpas who inhabit the central and eastern regions of Nepal. The
Sherpas have easy access to Bhot (Tibet) for trade and social intercourse and
therefore Tibetan influence on their culture and civilization remains distinct. The
midlands are inhabited by various Tibeto-Burman and Indo-Aryan speaking hill and valley
people, for example the Brahmins, Chettris, and Newars. While the Brahmins and Chettris
are widely distribute through out the country, the Newars are mainly concentrated in the
Katmandu Valley and other towns.
The Rais, Limbus,
Tamangs, Magars, Sunwars, Jirels, Gurungs, Thakalis, and Chepangs are other Tibeto-Burman
speaking Mongoloid peole found living in the middle hills. They each have their own
distinct social and cultural patterns. The Dun valleys and the lowland Terai are inhabited
by people such as the Brahmins, Rajputs, Tharus, Danwars, Majhis, Darais, Rajbansis,
Statars, dhimals and Dhangars. Though Nepal is a veritable mosaic of dozens of ethnic
groups, they are bound together by their loyalty to the institution of Monarchy, and by
the ideas of peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance to form one unified nation.
Nepali is the
national language of Nepal and is written in Devnagari Script. Other languages spoken in
Nepal include Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tamang, Avadhi, Tharu and Newari, however most educated
Nepalese can also speak and write English.
The Religious way of Life:
Religion is an integral and deep-rooted part of Nepalese life. Temples,
images, sacred paintings are to be seen everywhere. Majority of the people is Hindu
in Nepal, nevertheless, Buddhism has also important place in this country. Hinduism
and Buddhism are closely connected in Nepal and it would take a lifetime's study to
understand the complexities of country's religious life. Some hints regarding
religious matters.
Visitors to Hindu temple or Buddhist shrine are expected to take off their shoes
before entry as a mark of respect. In fact, a pair of open sandals is more
convenient and comfortable while visiting the temples and stupas. - In some of the temples
entrance may be prohibited for the non-Hindus.
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Leather articles are prohibited to be taken inside the temple precinct.
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