History of Nepal

For centuries the Kingdom of Nepal was divided into many principalities. Kirats ruled in the east, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid – west. The Kirats ruled from 300 BC and during their reign, emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha. The Kirats were followed by the Lichhavis whose descendants today are believed to be Newars of the Kathmandu Valley. During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many of the beautiful woodcarvings and sculptures that are found in the country belong to this era. With the end of Lichhavi dynasty, Malla kings came to power in 1200 AD and they also contributed tremendously to Nepal’s art and culture. However, after almost 600 years of rule, the king were not united among themselves and during the late 18th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one Kingdom. Recognizing the threat of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation. During the mid- 19th century Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal’s first Prime Minister to wield absolute power. He set up an oligarchy and Shah Kings remained figureheads. The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s. Today, Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system with a constitutional Monarch.

Geography

The kingdom of Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, and stretches 145-241 kilometers west to east. The country is located between India in the south and China in the north. At latitudes 26 and 30 degree north and longitudes 80 and 88 degrees east. Nepal is topographically divided into three regions: the Himalaya in the north, the Hills consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia Hills, and the Terai in the south. Elevations are varied in the kingdom. The highest point is Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and lowest point (70 meters sea level) is located at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa District. Altitude increase as you travel south to north. In the north, temperatures are below – 40 degrees Celsius and in the Terai, temperatures rise to 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. During June ,July and August, the kingdom is influenced by monsoon clouds.

The Himalaya

The Himalayan range makes up the northern border of the country and represents 16% of the total land area of Nepal. Peaks like Mt.Everest (8848 m), Kanchenjunga (8598 m), and Dhaulagiri (8137 m) are found here and sparse vegetation is found up to 4,500 m. Some of Nepal’s most beautiful animal and plant life are also found here. Although rare, the snow leopard and Danphe bird are much talked about sights among visitors. The people in this region produce and sell cheese besides working as porter and guides. Many also trade with Tibet and travel across the border to sell their goods.


Religions

Religious practices are an important part of the lives of Nepalese people. Mythologies of various Hindu gods and goddesses abound in this country and culture values are based on the philosophies of holy books like the Swasthani, Gita, Ramayana, etc.

Women and children visit neighborhood shrines at dawn to pay homage to the gods. Holding plates of rice, flowers and vermilion powder, they perform puja by lighting incense, ringing the temple bell, and applying tika, a red paste, on their foreheads. Passers by stop at temples and show their reverence to the gods by spending a few minutes praying. Occasionally, groups of men sit near temples playing music and singing hymns until late night.

In Nepal, Hinduism and Buddhism are the two main religions. The two have co – existed down the ages and many Hindu temples share the same complex as Buddhist shrines. Hindu and Buddhist worshippers may regard the same god with different names while performing religious rites.

Though Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, many other religions like Islam, Christianity, and Bon are practiced here. Some of the earliest inhabitants like the Kirats practice their own kind of religion based on ancestor worship and Tharus practice animism. Over the years, Hinduism and Buddhism have been influenced by these practices which have been modified to form a synthesis of Newar beliefs.

As a result, visitors to this country may often find the religious practices in Nepal difficult to follow and understand. But this does not prevent one from enjoying the different traditional ceremonies and rituals of Nepalese culture. It is indeed a totally new experience of religious fervor.

Hinduism

Thousands of gods and goddesses make up the Hindu pantheon. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the three major Hindu gods, who have their own characteristics and incarnations. Each god has his own steed which is often seen kneeling faithfully outside that god’s temple. Symbolic object are carried by the multiple hands of each deity which empowers them to performs great feats.

Buddhism

Sakyamuni Buddha is the founder of Buddhism who lived and taught in this part of the world during the sixth century BC. The great stupas of Swayambhunath and Bouddhanath are among the oldest and most beautiful worship sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

The spinning of prayer wheels, prostrating pilgrims, collective chants and burning butter lamps are some Buddhist practices often encountered by tourist. A slip of paper bearing a mantra is kept inside wheels so that prayers are send to the gods when the wheel is spun. Scenes from the Buddha’s life and Buddhist realms are depicted on thanka scroll paintings which are used during meditation and prayers ceremonies. Many Buddhist followers are seen performing these practice in Swayambhunath, Bouddhanath, and at other Buddhist sites around the valley.

The People

Peoples, Culture and languages

In Nepal, ethnical cultural groups are diverse and many of them have their own languages and customs. However, they can be geographically categorized according to their habitats. The Sherpas who are of Tibeto – Burman stock mainly occupy the higher hills of eastern and central Nepal. The Solukhumbu region, where the worlds tallest peak Mt. Everest stands, is inhabited by Sherpas. Generally they are Buddhist but some follow the Bon, the pre- Buddhist religion of Tibet, and other religions. The Sherpas are famed for their valor and mountaineering skills and are professionally involved in many mountain expeditions. Today, Sherpas have joined other occupations as well, like business, administration and politics.

A wide variety of ethnic groups occupy the mid – hills. The Kirats of Limbus and Rais inhabit the east. During the 7th century BC , they established a dynasty in the Kathmandu Valley and ruled it for 1,000 years. They are not originally Hindus or Buddhists but are ancestor worshippers. However, today, many embrace Hinduism. In the former days, they were warriors and skilled hunters. The Kirats speak Tibeto- Burman languages. Many serve in the British Army today and have earned a reputation as the brave Gurkhas.

The population of the Kathmandu Valley consists mostly of Newars. They speak Nepalbhasa and practice Hinduism and Buddhism. Many families celebrate both Hindu and Buddhist festivals. Their culture also reflects tantrism and animism. Newars are accomplished in commerce and most enterprises in the heart of the Valley are run by them. Historically, they are well known for establishing the three artistically beautiful cities of Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu.

The inhabitants of the hill flanks surrounding Kathmandu Valley are mostly Tamangs, who make up one of the largest Tibeto – Burman ethnic groups in the Kingdom. In the Tibetan language, Tamang means "horse soldier" which gives us an idea about their past occupation. Today, they farm and work as semi –skilled and unskilled laborers. Tamang practice Tibetan Lamaism or the Bon religion and speak their own language.

The Magars live in the western and central hills of Nepal. They had their own kingdoms until the 18th century and were closely associated with Hindu Indo- Aryans in the west. Much of their culture practices have been influenced by Chhetris, and today it is difficult to make any difference in the housing , dressing and farming practices of the two. The Magars have been sought after by the British and Indian armies and the great number serve in the Gurkha regiments.

Another ethnic group closely resembling the Magars in many aspects are the Gurungs. They also live in the western and central hills of the country although further to the east. Of Tibeto – Burman stock, the Gurungs have their own district language and practice shamanism. Many find employment in the British and Indian armies.

The Khas are the Bahuns and Chhetris who formed their own Kingdom in the far – west. They are Hindus and Nepali, which is the country’s official language was originally spoken by the Khas. Traditionally, the Bhahuns were priests and are better educated than most ethnic groups. In fact, many occupy important government and educational posts in the Kingdome today. The Chhetris have traditionally been known as warriors. Those living in the higher hills in the far western region lead hard lives because of lack of rain and farming is practiced in the river valleys and on the hills flanks.

The Tharus are one of the original ethnic groups to inhabit the Terai. The Majhi, Danuwar, Rajbansi, Darai, Satar and Dhimal also occupy the flat land. The Tharus have their own unique religion and practice animism. Their culture is especially suited for the hot plains and they are actually immune to malaria. They have Mongoloid features and speak their own language. There is much migration going on in the country now and the culture definition of the people by areas is difficult. Urban population is increasing by 7% each year and most cultures have intermingled.