Culture of Nepal

Culture and tradition in Nepal

Nepal is a country rich with several indigenous and ethnic groups  having distinct traditions, arts, cultures and religions. They celebrate various festivals, all the year with their unique beliefs and customs. But, their way of celebrating festivals and lifestyles are different from one part to another according to religion and tribes.
People of diverse religion and belief are the dominant features of Nepali society.

Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity are the major religions that are practiced in Nepal. People have a sense of unity, though living in the diverged society. Brahmins and Chhetris are regarded as Hindu believers and people from the Mongolian community are taken as Buddhist but they have a good respect to each other in the terms of sharing culture. They celebrate and enjoy together in many ways.

The Cow is worshipped as goddess so they don’t eat the beef items. Mostly, the males work outside and females are housewives, but it is slowly the society is changing. Nowadays even females are active in  maintaining economically strong in the family.

The culture of “Namaste” 
“Namaste” is the culture and tradition way of greeting people at the meeting and bidding farewell. It is the most decent way of greeting. Joining two palms together and bowing down the head is the way of its practice which reflects respect to anyone we do it. Image required…….

Occupation
 Agriculture is a major profession in Nepal. 80% of the total population are engaged in agriculture. Though in todays day people are making different occupation agriculture is the major one.

Language
Nepali is the national language. However, many people speak their ethic mother tongue. But the only language used for conversation is Nepali through out the nation.

Costumes or dress
The national costume for gents is Daura-Suwal with Dhaka Topi (wore as cap) and Saaree for ladies. This are typical and most beautiful dress of Nepal.

Food and cuisines 
With the diversity in region and caste food habits. However, Newari and Thakali cuisines are authentic Nepali items. The most popular meal in Nepal is Dal Bhat (lentil, curry and boiled rice), together with pickle. Dal Bhat Power 24 Hour is the famous saying in Nepal. As the ingredients in DAL BHAT is very rich with all stuffs required for body. Taking food in Nepal is done by washing hand. Right hand is the hand used for eating, left hand is not preferred. Spoons are used very less except restaurants and cafes.  Nepalese people eat meal thrice a day, meals in the morning and evening and snack in the midday.

Gundruk Dheedo is a traditional dish in Nepal, which is sugar free. Gundruk is made of spinach and Dheedo with wheat or maize flour. The taste of it is the best with sour and spicy homemade pickle. Your visit to Nepal without tasting of Dheedo and Gundruk is worthless.

Mo:mo and Chowmein (Spaghetti) are widely used fast food mostly al over the nation. Its taste and the time for cooking is quick so most of the people prefer it.

Raksi and Tongba (Typical Nepalese drinks)
There are two typical drinks in Nepal namely Raksi and Tongba. Raksi is a domestic brewery, which is very much important to many ethnic groups for their rituals and cultural ceremonies. It is not legal to sell as the bottle items in the market. Tongba is another popular cultural drink. It is a home-based wine, well loved during the winter season. They are pure no all natural ingredients and they a prepared in traditional way with the use of mud pots and wooden fires.

Khukuri - Typical Nepali weapon
Khukuri is a typical Nepalese weapon used during wars in ancient times. It is the product of Nepal which makes us proud to be Nepali. Khukuri has a long history in the past so its used by the British Gurkha Batallion too. With due respect to its history and as the national weapon of Nepal.

Marriage in Nepal
Another significant feature of Nepali society is customs. Marriage in Nepali society is a arrange marriage by guardians instead of the boy or girl. Marriage takes place in temples where god becomes mitness for the both bride and broom.Some cases love marriage is done with the understanding between boy and a girl.

Atithi Deva Vaba
Atithi Deva Vaba which means Guest are God. People of Nepal treat guests as a god. The way of greeting ‘Namaste’ on arriving and departing time, treating visitor in a good and typical well mannered is all about the culture towards visitors. Because of this many tourist visit to Nepal and are too much friendly towards Nepalese.

Celebration and Festivals in Nepal
Nepal is home for several indigenous and ethnic groups. Nepal is not only the land of mountain it is also the land of festivals. More than 60 ethnic groups have been recorded and many are still exploring, who are prosperous with their own language, culture and traditions. They have their unique festivals in celebration. In Nepal, people celebrate national festivals and local fair for the whole year in different months. Festivals in Nepal are as number as there are days in a year. Blessed to be one of the most diverse countries in the world, almost everyday Nepal and Nepalese are participating in some sort of festivals and celebrations. There is a saying in Nepal within 365 days Nepal celebrates 366 festivals.

Bijaya Dashami or Dashain
Deepawali or Tihar
Fagu purnima or Holi
Gai Jatra 
Janai Purnima 
Naag Panchami
Teej 
Rishi Panchami
Krishna Janmastami
Rato Machchhendranath
Buddha Jayanti
Nepali New Year
Ghode Jatra
Chhath
Maha Shivaratri 
Lhosar
Maghe Sangranti 
Chaite Dashain
Mother’s Day 
Gaura Parba 
Father’s Day 
Indra Jatra 
Nepal Sambat 
Mani Rimdu 
Bala Chaturdasi 
Bibah Panchami 
Christmas 
Yomari Punhi

Some main festivals are :-

Vijaya Dashami (DASHAIN)
Dashain is the most important festival to Nepalese people. It is a celebration of good victory over evil. Dashain is the longest festival in Nepal, celebrated for 15 days. It falls during September-October. The Hindu people worship goddess Durga for nine days and put on Tikka (rice, red vermillion and yoghurt) and Jamara on the 10th day till the 15th day along with the blessing from the elders. Large bamboo swings callled as Linge ping are set up. Most families offer male goats, ducks, chickens, eggs and coconuts to the goddess Durga. Flying kites is another way of celebration of dashain. Kites a visibles all over the skies before a month ago dashain begins.

Deepawali (TIHAR)
Deepawali is known as Tihar festival, celebrated for five days in the mid of month Kartik. It is the most beautiful festival among all as it’s the  festival of lights. Tihar is Nepal’s second most important festival, after Dashain. In each of the three days, a different deity is worshipped. First day we worship and feed crow, the messenger of Yama (the bringer of death , the second day we worship and feed dog (Bhairav),  on the third goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, the bringer of wealth the fifth day, forth day Gobardhan puja and the fifth day Bhai tika, where sisters put tika and garlands to their brothers and brother offer some kind of presents.

Fagu Purnima or Holi
Fagu Purnima or Holi is a festival of colors, celebrated during the month of Falgun or  March on a full moon day. People celebrate this festival by using different colors and waters to each other. It is beautifully celebrated in all regions of Nepal. Holi is a very colorful and playful festival. It is celebrated in the Terai on one day, and in Kathmandu and the hill regions on the next day.

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Architecture and archeology

Nepal Sampada Sangha (Nepal Heritage Society) has compiled an inventory of 1,262 significant architectural and archeological sites in Nepal outside Kathmandu Valley .

Sports

Kabbadi and Dandi Biyo are national games of Nepal. But now people love cricket, basketball and football as well in Nepal.

Dandi Biyo
Dandi Biyo is the National Game of Nepal. It consists two piece of stick one is called Dandi and another is Biyo. Dandi hits biyo and hitman measures the distance between Dandi and Biyo.

But nowadays there is a huge follower and huge number of people getting involved in football and cricket where they have proved themselves to make world recognize Nepal in world Nepal played their first T20 cricket world cup in ….and has a good ranking and remark on ICC (International Cricket Council) and overall games.

In Nepal football players has been proving themselves but not so much progress in cricket. Instead there are huge followers of Nepali national football team in all age divisions and overall international arena.

 Many domestic cricket leagues and football division leagues are timely been held inside the country . But the sad part of it is the government authorized of Nepal is  not fully participating in the development of infrastructure of sector and players too.