The Democratic Republic of Nepal, formerly known as the kingdom of Nepal, is a country rich in a unique culture that has evolved over the years. From their salutations, how they dress, foods and drinks, religion, languages, music, and crafts, it is easy to note how culture has shaped the country and how it continues to do so. Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Mongolian influences have had an impact on the rich cultural heritage of Nepal. These influences result from trade, conquest, and migration. The Nepalese culture has many symbols borrowed from the Hindu and Buddhist sources, with some key symbols that unite the country as the national flower and bird; the rhododendron and Danfe. Other important symbols of the nation are the flag and the curved knives of the Gurkhas. The people of Nepal believe that through their diverse heritage, there is unity in culture.
Religion
Nepal’s major population is Hindu, but others still follow other religions like Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Kirat, local traditional belief, and other religions. In areas where there is Indian and Tibetan influence on the culture, Hindus and Buddhists dominate those areas. Some traditions are also deeply rooted in the people of Nepal, like animal sacrifices. The animals offered as sacrifices are males, including water buffaloes, chicken, and ducks. In other places like in India, cows are sacred and are not sacrificed in their culture.
Festivals and Celebrations
Festivals and celebrations in Nepal vary from one-day events to several days. Some important festivals in Nepal are Dashain, a festival that falls from September to mid-October. To the Newars, they celebrate it as Mohani. Other important festivals are Swanti and Chhath, Maha Shivaratri, and Buddha Jayanti. These festivals have food and drinks, music, and dancing. They perform dances such as Mishka during weddings and include arm movements and footwork. There are also musical instruments that accompany the dance.
Clothing
The people of Nepal are very conservative with dressing. Men normally wear shirts and long trousers in public. Women put on saris or skirts that hang to mid-calf length, although trousers have slowly have adopted by some. It covers therefore their shoulders;, vest-tops are unacceptable. Nowadays, girls in Kathmandu and Pokhara can wear short skirts and shorts; however, this dressing type is still known to be sceptical. For the body, cleanliness is next to godliness and shows respect; therefore, you had to earn it. “It means that the body is too pure to be passed around” The forehead is the most sacred body part, and it was rude to touch an adult’s head; likewise, the feet are the most unclean part and are not allowed be on chairs and tables. When sitting, it is bad manners to point the sole of your feet at someone or even step on someone sitting.
Salutation
The Nepali greeting, namaste (“I salute the God within you”), is an attractive custom in the Nepalese culture-etiquette. Palms are known to always held together as if praying. A more formal way of greeting is namaskar. The Nepalis also address each other delightfully; didi (“older sister”), bahini (“younger sister”), daai (“older brother”), bhaai (“younger brother”), buwa (“father”) and aamaa (“mother”). It is also fascinating how yes and no are indicated in Nepal. To agree, you tilt your head slightly to one side and back to the other side. You use your chin to point rather than the finger, and when saying no, you hold one hand up in front and swivel your wrist as if adjusting a bracelet.
Languages
There are interestingly about 123 languages spoken in Nepal culture-society. With so many ethnic groups, many would expect to have a lot of misunderstandings among these groups; how do they even get along? But the Nepalese find unity in their diversity, including their ethnic groups. There were three major language groups in Nepal which evolved to all these groups. The three main were indigenous, Tibeto-Burman and Indo-Aryan. The national language in Nepal is the Nepali language; it has written in Devanagari script. Maithili, a de facto language, is the second language. Other major languages include Tamang, Magar, Bajjika, Tharu, and Nepal Basa. However, some languages like Kusunda, Waling, and Madhesiya are extinct in Nepal.
Travel
For tourists looking for unique experiences and unforgettable adventures, Nepal is the place to be culture. It is home to the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest. It also has seven other mountains that are among the highest globally, therefore, a suitable destination for rock climbers and mountaineers tourism-in-Nepal. Nepal also has a lot of wildlife; wild boars, rhinos, sloth-bears, four-horned antelopes. Moreover, the Royal Bengal tiger is the icing to the cake. Tourists are not only limited to mountaineering and national parks; there are other enjoyable activities like bungee jumping, para-gliding, hot air ballooning, bird watching, trekking to name a few. The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, is a beautiful city with rich culture, art in museums, magnificent architecture and home to seven heritage sites found nowhere else in the world, you wouldn’t want to miss a chance to see at tourism-in-Nepal.
For tourists looking for unique experiences and unforgettable adventures, Nepal is the place to be culture. It is home to the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest. It also has seven other mountains that are among the highest globally, therefore, a suitable destination for rock climbers and mountaineers tourism-in-Nepal. Nepal also has a lot of wildlife; wild boars, rhinos, sloth-bears, four-horned antelopes. Moreover, the Royal Bengal tiger is the icing to the cake. Tourists are not only limited to mountaineering and national parks; there are other enjoyable activities like bungee jumping, para-gliding, hot air ballooning, bird watching, trekking to name a few. The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, is a beautiful city with rich culture, art in museums, magnificent architecture and home to seven heritage sites found nowhere else in the world, you wouldn’t want to miss a chance to see at tourism-in-Nepal.
