Nepal-Culture

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Beliefs:
One of the most significant legacies of Nepal was its introduction of Buddhism to Tibet. A Nepalese princess, Bhirkhuti, was given in marriage to the powerful Tibetan king Tsrong Gompo. The king was the strongest, fiercest warrior of his day. He and his army were so feared teha even teh powerful CHinese sent a princess in marriage as a sign of respect. Bhirkuti's faith, however, was strong enough to convert the king and Tibet to Buddhism. Bhirkuti is still loved in Tibet and worshiped as the Green Tara, a symbol of mercy and compassion. She is also worshipped by Buddhists in Nepal.
 * The Green Tara**

Nepal's history began in the Kathmandu Valley, which was once a lake. Geologists believe the lake drained 6,000-7,000 years ago, but the cause is unclear. Legend says that the god Manjushri sliced the valley wall at Chohar, where there is a narrow gorge, and drained the water.
 * Creation of Nepal**

Traditions:
Traditions vary significantly from household to household. Celebrations, customs, languages, and religions can differ even among neighbors, but espcially from town to town. The Nepalese however are extremely tolerant of differing traditions held by neighbors and other people so this causes little friction.

Names in Nepal have significant meaning attatched to them. From a name an assortment of information can be known about a person. Things like a person's caste or group, their profession, and even where they are from (Burbank 2002).

The family unit in Nepal is quite large and has a hierarchial structure with divisions and rankings within the family. The family unit not only encompasses a mother and father and their children, but grandparents (on the father's side), the father's brothers and their wives and children and sometimes even including the daughter's or wives family as well. Typically the son stays in the home of his parents, while the daughters get married and join the households of their husbands. The oldest male is usually the head of the household and manages the money and has the final say on all important family decisions (Burbank 2002).

When a child is about 6 months old, the parents have a rice feeding ceremony called a pausni. This is a ceremony to celebrate the future of the child and to wish the child much prosperity. In the Newar ceromonies, objects are laid in front of the child that represent different professions. The object the child picks up first is a predicter of the child's future talents or occupation (Burbank 2002).

Societal Expectations:
Women are expected to do most of the work around the home. They cook, clean, take care of the children, and even work in the fields. Women are mainly responsible for keeping the house running and in good working order. In towns this is generally the extent fo their work and men go to an job in the morning and come back in the evening. In the villages, men and women often work side by side in order to get all the work done. Adults in the villages work from sunrise to sunset because their work is typically outside. In the towns, the day is longer due to the benefits of electricity and easy access to candles. Children are expected to go to school and when they come home help their parents with evening chores (Burbank 2002).

Education:
Nepal’s literacy rate of the total population is 48.6%. The literacy rate among men is 62.7% and the percentage of women who are literate is 34.9% (CIA World Factbook).

The average time that students spend in primary to tertiary education is 9 years. Boys on average spend 10 years in education. While girls spend only 8 years in education (CIA World Factbook).

There are very few schools in Nepal’s rural areas and at these schools lessons are conducted outdoors. Few textbooks are available, so students are taught to memorize their lessons (Burbank 2002).

The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for administration and supervision of all elementary and secondary education. The first college was established in 1918, and Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu was chartered in 1959 (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Language:
As a result of the caste system and other hierarchical structures within the variety of cultures present in Nepal, there are many different ways to say you in Nepali. Each one shows a different level of respect to the person you are addressing.


 * yaahaa || Very polite ||
 * hajur || Polite, often used by a woman when talking to her husband. ||
 * tapaai || The most common form used in everyday conversation with casual friends or shopkeepers. ||
 * timi || Used with good friends, children, or lower caste people, sometimes used by a husband with his wife. It can imply affection or a sense of superiority or both. ||
 * ta || Used with animals, young children, people of very low status, or someone you want to fight with. It can imply a great affection or a total lack of respect. ||

Religion:
Establishment of Two Religions: The Hindu god Indra is said to have visited the valley of Kathmandu in the seventh or eighth century B.C. disguised as a human. There, Indra met with the king. Siddharta Guatama, the founder of Buddhism, was born about 563 B.C. in Lumbini, a town located on the plains of Nepal's terai. He is also believed to have visited Kathmandu during his travels (Burbank 2002).

Buddhism and Hinduism are the two most prominent religions in Nepal and have and continue to coexist peacefully in this small country. About 80.6% of the population is Hindu and about 10.7% is Buddhist. Muslims make up about 4.2% of the population and the remaining 3.5% are an assortment of other religious affiliations (CIA World Factbook).

National Hollidays:
Nepal has dozens of festivals every year. This is partially because there are two religions represented in Nepal and some Nepali villiages follow both religions. Nepal has some national holidays, but local festivals are more numerous. The major festivals are all religious festivals, and are determined by the lunar calendar, so the acutal date fluctuates year to year.


 * Festival of Lights:**

The Festival of Lights, or Tihar, as it is called in Nepal, are similar to Christams celebrations. Gifts are exchanged, houses are decorated with lights and lit at night, special foods are prepared, and Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune is said to visit at night. Tihar is a five day festival, each day, a different animal is honored, the third day, cows are honored which is the symbol of Laxmi. On the third night, Laxmi comes to visit deserving homes, houses are cleaned, then decorated with lights and tinsel. A table is made set with food and valubles in honor of Laxmi. Men and women go out to sing from house to house and are rewarded with presents. The fourth day is the celebration of the New Year. The fifth day is the Bhai Tika or "brothers blessing." This day the brother's recieve a blessing from their sisters. This is such an important ritual that many brother's will travel miles to recieve a sister's blessing.


 * Indra Jatra:**

This festival lasts 8 days and is the main festival of the Kathmandu Valley.

Long ago, Indra, the god of rain, came to the valley to steal some beautiful flowers. He awas caught by the people adn tied in heavy ropes like a common man. It was not unitl Indra's mother came to seek him and convince the people of Indra's true identity that they released him. In return, she gave the people two gifts. She would take to heaven all who died that year and she would give the valley wet, foggy, winter mornings to help moisten the crops.

During this festival, costumed and masked dancers wander through Kathmandu, reenacting the search for Indra. For 3 nights the Kumari, the Living Goddess is carried through the streets in her chariot. On the second night the Kumarie gives a tika to the king. This rite symbolizes the goddess' blessing on the king, thus ensuring continued prosperity for the kingdom.

Music:
Music and dance play an important role in Nepali society. Its function is both religious and for entertainment.

Religious ceremonies often require the use of drums and wind instruments preserved from ancient times. Singing and chanting are also key parts of many religious ceremonies. Men, women, and children sing specific devotional songs during specific ceremonies and celebrations (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Food:

 * Dal**, **Bhat** and **Tarkari** - translated as Lentils, Rice and Curried vegetable. It is the main staple diet of most Nepali people (Nepal Food).

A snack or appetizer is **Gundruk** - dried and fermented green vegetables leaves. when made to soup gives a slightly sour, slightly tangy (Nepal Food).

A main dish in Nepal is **Masu** - meat with spices (curry) and gravy. usually served with rice. Most Nepalese eat chicken, mutton. Some eat buffalo and pork. Almost no one eats cow. Killing cow is prohibited in Nepal (Nepal Food).

A dessert in Nepal is **Sikarni** - curd mixed with dried fruits (Nepal Food).

Sports:
Nepal's traditional sport is kabaddi, which origionated in India.

Two teams face each other across a line on the ground. A player from team A tries to tag a player from team B while saying "Kabaddi," once they tag someone they must race back across the line to their side. The players on team B try to avoid the tag, but if one of them is tagged, they rush to stop their opponent from recrossing the line. If team B can hold the player from team A until he is out of breath and stops yellling "kabaddi," they win. Player on team A wins, if he recrosses the line (Burbank 2002).

Volley ball and soccer are also popular sports because neither require a lot of equipment and espcially with volley ball, a large field is not needed (Burbank 2002).

Art:
Art in Nepal is mainly created as an act of worship, associated to the two main religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. Art in Nepal is a part of daily life and is treated as such. Art is to be touched, sat on, worshiped, or even used to entertain children. Although it represents figures that are to be revered and honored, the masterpiece itself is not treated as such. Instead it is seen as a pathway to get closer to the god or goddess it represents (Burbank 2002).

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