Nepalese culture is a combination of cultures from 125 ethnic groups in Nepal.
On May 18, 2006, Parliament declared Nepal a secular country. Most Nepalese are Buddhists or Hindus, and other religions are Bon, Sikhism, Jainism, animism, Christianity, and Islam.
The people of Nepal express their culture through festivals, literature, languages, architecture, art, dance, and music. Traditions also differ in each part of this small country. Kathmandu, the capital city, has a blend of cultures from different regions to form one national identity.
The cultural metropolis of Nepal is Kathmandu valley. Festivals, along with food, play a key role in their celebration. For 250 years, the Shah king ruled Nepal and had multiple small kingdoms. Prithvi Narayan Shah was Nepal's first king.
This country was never colonized. So, the country has no independence day. Read on to learn about Nepal's economy, ethnicity, history, and more.
Arts And Humanities In Nepal
Nepal's culture consists of dance, music, language, literature, and crafts. Lord Shiva performed the Tandava dance in the Himalayas, and it is believed that dance in Nepal originated from this point.
Dances also change in costumes and style with the ethnicity and altitudes of Nepal. Dishka is a dance form performed at weddings, which includes detailed arm movements and footwork. These dance forms also have themes and musical instruments accompanying the dance.
- Different regions and groups have various kinds of dance. The Far-Western Nepalis have the Deuda dance, the Tharu people have stick dances, the Limbu people have Dhan Nach, and the Rai people have the Sakela dance form.
- The Nepali language is written in the Devanagari script, which is also used for Hindi.
- Famous and widely played music genres are Classical music, Ghazal, Tamang Selo, Bhajan, and Dohori.
- The official language of Nepal is Nepali, with semi-official languages like Khas, Nepali Bhasa, Gurung, Bhojpuri, Tharu, and more. They also have many indigenous Indo-Aryan languages.
- Earthquakes have destroyed several beautiful temples. They had centuries-old carvings.
- Every ethnic group has its own traditional dance form.
- The original inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley were the Newari group.
- The elephant polo game has its roots in Meghauli, Nepal. The Tiger Tops of the country is the headquarters of elephant polo.
- Kathmandu Valley has the most number of music bands in Nepal.
- Nepali women consider their hair the epitome of beauty and should not be cut.
- The Sherpa people are popular to be immune to altitude impacts because of their genetics and upbringing.
- Public display of affection in Nepal is illegal. Officials will arrest anyone kissing in public.
- Although they have no medals, volleyball is Nepal's national game.
- Asia's Himalayan mountains separate the Indian subcontinent and Tibetian Plateau. The youngest range of the world is spread across Pakistan, China, India, Bhutan, and Nepal.
- Indian and Tibetan music have influenced the music genres of Nepal.
- Nepal successfully brought back wild buffaloes and Gharials, increased the populations of horned rhinos and tigers, and saved blackbucks.
- Less than 1% of Nepal follow Christianity, 3.6% follow the Kirant religion, and 4.2% follow Islam. About 9% population follows Buddhism, and 81.6% follow Hinduism.
- Fridays are usually half-working days, while Saturdays are holidays. Sundays are working days.
- Apart from the Kathmandu valley, Sagarmatha National Park, Chitwan National Park, and Lumbini are also inscribed on the World Heritage Site.
- The majority of Nepalis follow the caste system in marriage and living habits.
- The country worships the living goddess or Kumari, a pre-pubescent girl selected as a child to be the embodiment of divine female energy. She retires after reaching puberty.
- Nepal's cultural and religious practices influence the country's art. The main Nepali art forms are architecture, pottery, woodcarving, sculptures, and paintings. It also includes traditional dances, musical instruments, and songs.
- As Kathmandu became the hub of Tibet and India's historic trade route, it has a mixture of traditions, artists, and architecture.
- The national flag of Nepal is the world's only flag that is neither in the shape of a square nor a rectangle.
- It is believed to be rude to touch someone's head or eat with the left hand.
- Nepal's prominent Hindu temples have pagoda architectural designs. While Buddhist temples feature a stupa of the Tibetan tradition.
- In 2015, the constitution of the country was formulated.
- The dynasties that ruled the country influenced the architectural history of Nepal.
- Some types of residential structures in Nepal include early Nepali homes made of stone residences, Newari homes, Shah homes, and Rana homes. Brick and concrete are used in modern Nepali homes.
Food And Economy In Nepal
Nepali cuisine varies as per geography and cultural diversity in the country. Nepali Dal-Bhat-Tarkari is a traditional food across the country. Dal is a lentil and spice soup with rice and grains, and tarkari is a vegetable curry. They also use various spicy pickles. Dhindo is a traditional staple food of Nepal.
- The Nepalese-style dumpling called momo is an adaptation of Tibet's mogmog. Initially, momos were filled with buffalo meat. However, they are now made of goat or chicken meat and also vegetables.
- Alcoholic beverages like chhyaang, nigaar, and Tongba are available at higher altitudes.
- Since demand exceeds the supply of hydroelectric power, everybody needs to live with no electricity for a large portion of every day.
- Chow mein, originally from China, is a favorite dish in Nepal in modern times.
- Terai cuisine of southern Nepal is similar to the west's Tharu cuisine and Maithili cuisine of the east.
- The Nepalese government's main source of revenue is Mount Everest through foreign sources.
- Non-alcoholic drinks available in Nepal include buttermilk, sugarcane juice, and Tea.
- The government of Nepal returns half of the income from tourism to residents near the wildlife conservatories.
- During festivals, Nepalis make patre, finni roti, and sell roti.
- Limbu cuisine consists of buckwheat or millet bread, yangben, and kinema.
- There is a water shortage in Nepal with the availability of fresh water.
- As one of the poorest countries, half of Nepal's population survives on one dollar per person daily.
- Although not least, the Cost Of Living Index of the country is comparatively lower.
- People in Nepal consume snacks like lapsi or dried fruit candy, bhatmas or dry-roasted soybeans, and samosa.
- Nepal is an emerging country with a lower-middle-income economy.
- It is expensive to fly into Nepal. The country also needs more aircraft to fly outside Asia.
- Nepalese consumes sweets like yomari or sweet dumplings, all Mohan, halwa, and barfi. They also combine various nuts and fruits in these sweets.
- Domestic air services and telephones connect the main cities.
- Western culture also has had an impact on Nepal's cuisine. Burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, Sprite, and Coke are available in regions with tourists.
- Over 75% of Nepal's population works in agriculture, creating 38% of the GDP.
- Nepalis place their palms together to greet each other, which is called 'Namaste' like in India. It translates to 'I salute the God in you.'
- After India and China, Nepal is the biggest producer of ginger.
- Since the '50s, Nepal has moved toward sustainable economic growth. The main economic activity of the country is still agriculture.
- Cows are the national animal in Nepal, they are also sacred, and it is illegal to execute them in the country.
- Nepal is a popular spot for extreme sport and adventure tourism. Some of these sports include mountain biking, mountaineering, kayaking, paragliding, and bungee jumping.
- Middle-class families living around tourist areas consume western food on a daily basis.
- More than half of the population of the country lives in Kathmandu.
History And Ethnic Relations In Nepal
Nepal is the birth country of Lord Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama of the Sakya royal family. He was born in 623 B. C. in Lumbini's Kapilavastu. Many believe that the Mongoloid tribe known as Hindu Kiratis were the original inhabitants of Kathmandu. When North Indian rules overthrew Kiratis, Nepal's religion was primarily Hindu.
- Historically, Kathmandu valley was a vast lake filled with lotuses.
- In 1768, the Kingdom of Nepal unified the current regions of Nepal.
- The oldest temple of Nepal is called Changu Narayan, which was built in 464 AD. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- In the Rana regime, between 1846 and the '50s, Nepal followed isolationism to stop the European invasion of their land.
- Several dynasties ruled Nepal, including the Kirat dynasty, the Gupta dynasty, the Licchavi dynasty, and the Thakuri dynasty.
- Prithvi Narayan Shah overthrew the Mallas to conquer Kathmandu in 1769.
- Kathmandu, previously known as Kantipur, translates to 'City Of Glory.'
- The people of Nepal started to push for democratic reforms in 1950.
- Several holidays in the country are Hindu festivals, which usually obey astronomical observations. Some festivals that the Nepalese people celebrate are Maha Shivaratri, Makar Sankranti, and Basant Panchami.
- Endogamy and culture categorized the ethnic group of Nepal. Endogamy sculpts the country's groups.
- Ethnic people called Sherpas inhabit the mountainous and eastern areas of Nepal.
- The Malla dynasty enforced a Hindu social and legal code in the country.
- Nepal does not have enclosed businesses and shops like in Western countries.
- Around 9,000 years ago, Neolithic people migrated to the Himalayas.
FAQs
What do we know about Nepal culture?
The Nepal Culture consists of cultures of 125 ethnic groups of Nepal.
What are the cultural features of Nepal?
Cultural features of Nepal are derived from Buddhism and Hinduism in Nepal.
Where is Nepal located?
Nepal is located in South Asia, between India and China.
What continent is Nepal in?
Nepal is on the Asian continent.
How are Nepalese famous in the world?
Sherpas of Nepal are famous for their amazing mountaineering skills.
How far is Nepal from sea level?
Nepal is 10711.94 ft (3265 m) from the sea level.
How is Nepal's culture different from others?
The practice of animal sacrifice is common in Nepalese culture.
Who is the head of the household in Nepal?
The patriarch is the head of the household in Nepal.
What is a big part of Nepalese culture?
Tantric traditions have deep roots in Nepal, like animal sacrifice.
