In the middle of the 1st millennium BC. V Nepal from the east came the Kirati tribe, which professed Buddhism, and for eight hundred years Buddhism became the dominant religion here. Its influence waned when the Newar people invaded the Kathmandu Valley from India around 300 AD.
Hinduism- the religion of these newcomers - has since become the official religion of Nepal. The change from one dominant religion to another took place peacefully and painlessly; many shrines of Nepal are equally revered by both Hindus and Buddhists.
This is explained by the fact that Hinduism has never had a complete theological system; it easily absorbs other cults, recognizing new deities as incarnations of its ancient gods.
Hindu god can act not only in the form of another deity, but also a person. For example, the Nepalese king is considered the incarnation of Vishnu, one of the main Hindu gods. And the goddess Kumari exists exclusively in the guise of a living girl.
Temple- Kumari's home. The goddess is chosen from girls aged three or four years, guided by very complex criteria.
The girl remains a goddess until she loses at least a drop of blood for any reason. After this, she is given a good dowry, but it is not so easy for a retired goddess to marry - it is believed that marriage with her will be overshadowed by all sorts of misfortunes.
IN Hinduism there is no priesthood in the usual sense for us. Brahmins, who perform the duties of priests, do not take any special vows, live an ordinary life in the world, run a household and have a family.
People who renounce the world and devote themselves to one of the Hindu gods are called sadhu. They lead an ascetic lifestyle, and the people consider them sages. It is to sadhus, and not to brahmin priests, that Nepalese usually go with their sorrows or when they need to make a decision. Everyone brings something with them - sadhus have no other sources of livelihood.
Hindu pantheon huge. Temples are dedicated to the main gods, and altars to less significant gods. One of the temples is the sanctuary of the monkey king Hanuman.
Immediately after his birth, legend says, Hanuman grabbed Sun, mistaking it for an edible fruit, and the god Indra barely managed to take the luminary from the voracious baby.
In the epic" Ramayana" tells how selflessly noble and powerful Hanuman- he had such power that he tore hills and mountains from the ground, - he helped the god Rama rescue his bride Sita from captivity.
In India and Nepal monkeys They are considered, if not direct descendants of the divine Hanuman, then at least his relatives.
The Nepalese believe that monkeys understand human speech and can talk - they just hide it so as not to be forced to work. It must be said that Hanuman’s relatives, who live in abundance in Nepal, have greatly lost the strength and nobility of their great ancestor.
One of the two supreme Hindu deities - god Shiva- dedicated Pashupatinath Temple. This is not even a temple, but a vast temple complex located near the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River.
Every day crowds of pilgrims flock here not only from all over Nepal, but also from neighboring India. Performing puja, an offering to the formidable Shiva, is the duty of every believer. Most sacrifice roosters, which can be bought right next to the temples.
After standing in a long line, believers hand the birds over to the minister - he cuts their throats and sprinkles the altar with sacrificial blood. Some people present goats as gifts to Shiva.
You can wash the carcass nearby and then take it home - after the ritual, the Nepalese use the meat of sacrificial animals for their intended purpose, that is, for food.
Every Hindu dreams of being taken on his last journey in Pashupatinath, although there is a place for a funeral ritual at every temple standing on the river bank.
After the farewell ritual in the temple, male relatives carry the deceased on a stretcher to the ghatami - a stone platform for cremation, on which the funeral pyre is laid in advance. Only the son of the deceased can light a fire, so the absence of sons in the family is considered a terrible misfortune.
Hindus believe that after death a person’s soul moves into a new shell - into a plant, animal or human.
Whether the new incarnation will be favorable or unfavorable depends on karma- that is, the sum of good and bad deeds committed in life. So that nothing interferes with the relocation of the soul, not a trace of the former bodily shell should remain on the earth - the muddy waters of Bagmati carry the ashes to the Ganges River, sacred to Hindus.
Buddhists also cremate their dead, but some - who were distinguished by special holiness during their lifetime - are mummified and placed in sanctuaries - stupas.
This word is translated from Sanskrit- the language of sacred Buddhist texts - as “top of the head” or “heap of earth”. Bouddhanath Stupa in Kathmandu was built in the 3rd century BC. and has been updated several times since then. The eyes on the gilded wall of the temple are not a decorative element.
It is believed that he himself looks at believers with them Buddha. Also, these bright flags hanging everywhere are not for decoration. Mantras are written on them - prayer appeals to Buddhist saints.
Of all the holy places for Buddhists - and there are a great many of them in Nepal - the most revered temple complex in Lumbini, a small town near the Indian border.
According to legend, it was here 700 BC. On the day of the May full moon, on the shore of a lake under the shade of a spreading tree, Queen Maya gave birth to a son, Siddhartha, whose name translates as “who fulfilled his destiny.”
The boy's birth was accompanied by many signs, and one hundred and eight sages gathered in Lumbini to interpret them. They announced that Siddhartha will become either a great ruler or a teacher, such as has never happened on Earth. Over the years, the prince achieved complete enlightenment and became the first Buddha, the founder of a new religion.
That Buddha was born in Lumbini, as evidenced by the writings on the column erected 300 years after his death by King Ashoka. It was through the efforts of Ashoka that Buddhism spread to most of South Asia.
Although Nepal- the birthplace of Buddha, Buddhism came to the country from the northeast, from the territory of modern China. To this day, Chinese Buddhist temples and monasteries operate in Nepal.
Above the entrance to one of the temples, instead of Sanskrit script, there are inscriptions Chinese characters, and the pot-bellied Buddha statues decorating its interior are clearly made in the Chinese, rather than Indo-Nepalese, manner.
The art of making traditional Buddha figurines is especially developed in the city of Patan, the second largest after Kathmandu.
The main materials are soft volcanic stone and bronze. This work is painstaking, and ordinary Nepalese cannot pay a lot of money for figurines. It is considered good luck when an order comes from European Buddhists or monasteries.
Monasteries in Nepal often have a greater impact on people's lives than government agencies. The advice received from the monk is followed strictly.
Anyone who is familiar with the sacred texts and follows religious instructions can become a Buddhist monk. If desired, the monk is free to leave the monastery at any time and return to the world.
The life of a monk is spent in meditation, reading sacred books and prayers. Each prayer said brings the Buddhist closer to nirvana - the final deliverance from earthly suffering.
Behind prayer Each turn of the prayer wheels, which are installed in all Buddhist monasteries, also counts.
Let's hope that the prayers we whispered as our plane fell over Himalami into the next air hole, will also be counted towards us at the moment of rebirth. After all, this aircraft belonged to an airline named after the founder of Buddhism.
In addition, the country entered international relations very late, as we mentioned, in 1951, and the country's leadership realized its complete backwardness late.
Of course, the Nepalese are not discouraged and are developing their territory at a rapid pace. The country's economic growth in recent years has been 4-6%. Neither European countries, nor the USA, nor Russia can boast of such figures. Only the Chinese have big numbers.
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Nepal has a well-developed agriculture industry. Even in the mountains, summer pastures are used for grazing livestock; yaks (pictured on the right) and mountain goats are bred here, and rice is grown on terraced fields. 7 out of 10 residents of the country are engaged in agriculture. This is due to the lack of technology in Nepalese fields, since in most cases it simply cannot be used. Manual labor predominates here, and this is a necessary measure; it cannot be done any other way. Recently, light industry has begun to flourish in Nepal; every year the country exports more and more carpets, clothing and expensive fabrics - cashmere and pashmina (we wrote about them in the article about). |
Fabrics and clothing are very popular in Europe, which buys up to half of its products from Nepal. The export of clothing is interesting for Nepal primarily because this product is cost-effective to transport by air. For example, it is not profitable to transport grain or rice by plane; the cost of delivery is comparable to the cost of the goods.
The second important source of income for Nepal is tourism, which every year increasingly replenishes the Nepalese treasury.
Tourism and transport
The second important component of Nepal's tourism industry is trekking (or hiking) in the mountains. The country has a lot of national parks with unique nature, through which these trips are organized.
The most popular trekking takes place around the Annapurna mountain range, it is called that. Hiking and hiking are also popular among tourists. The number of routes is incalculable, and travel companies They even arrange individual routes.
In order to popularize tourism, they are issued directly at airports and land checkpoints of the country. This practice applies to citizens of almost all countries.
And, of course, people come to Nepal to see the color of this country, to understand that there are places in the world where people live completely differently, not sharing the values of “big” civilizations. In addition, Nepal is a country of many nationalities, languages, cultures and religions, it is even difficult to understand how all this diversity could be placed in such a small area.
Religions, languages and peoples of Nepal
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Nepal is home to 6 major ethnic groups numbering over 1 million people, and there are about 100 of them in total. For such a small area this is a very high density, but they all manage to live in peace and tranquility. Some peoples still adhere to the division into castes, which shocks many Europeans. This is especially pronounced among the Khas people. People of this nationality do not even call themselves that, but call their group by the name of the caste: “Chhetri”, “Brahman”, “Kari”, “Thakuri” or “Sarki”. Modern Nepali is the language of the Khas people, and they themselves are the largest people in the country. Among the interesting nationalities of Nepal, it is worth noting the Sherpas and Gurungs. The former became famous for their ability to endure high-altitude conditions; they serve as guides for climbers. All records for the number belong to the Sherpa guides. Volunteers are recruited from the Gurung people for the armies of Great Britain and India. These are the famous Gurkhas. |
The diversity of languages in Nepal is no less than the diversity of peoples. Only half of Nepalese speak the official language (Nepali or “Nepali”) as their mother tongue. Different peoples have their own languages, and there are several hundred of them in the country.
Another 4% of the population professes Islam, but they live far from large cities, and you most likely will not see mosques during your trip.
Political situation in Nepal
Even before 2008, Nepal was one of only four countries in the world with an absolute monarchy form of government. Since 2008, there have been only three such countries, and the king was overthrown in Nepal. This story is very complex, let’s try to tell it briefly.
Political movements against royal power began to flourish back in the 90s. Objectively, the monarchy hindered the development of the country, and many were dissatisfied with it.
In 2007, he was overthrown by the opposition. Nepal became a democratic republic. There have been no major changes, only minor spring changes. They released it in the country and changed a little.
Now the political situation in the country is calm, and the civil war is a thing of the past. Nepal is a safe country.
We told you all the most important things about the country Nepal. Read our other articles about this country ( links below).
Brief information about the country
Date of foundation
Official language
Form of government
Parliamentary republic
Territory
140,800 km² (94th in the world)
Population
30,430,267 people (41st in the world)
Kathmandu
Nepalese rupee
Timezone
The largest city
Kathmandu
$31.634 billion (83rd in the world)
Internet domain
Telephone code
Nepal- a state in the depths of South Asia, in the central part of the Himalayan mountains. It borders on China in the north, and India on the south, west and east. A twenty-kilometer strip of Indian territory separates Nepal from Bangladesh. Tourists, mountain bikers, hikers, and climbers from all over the world are attracted to Nepal not only by Everest, but also by 150 other mountain peaks. While visiting local Buddhist temples and monasteries, you can plunge into the beauty of the Middle Ages and touch the mysterious Asian world.
Video: Nepal
Basic moments
Nepal is considered one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite this, lovers of cultural recreation are drawn here again and again by the ancient history of the state, its culture and religion. Here everyone will find something for themselves: extreme sports enthusiasts can conquer the next peak, creative people will receive a source of inspiration (the local landscapes inspire everyone), those exploring their inner world will perhaps discover a new facet in themselves (Nepals attach great importance to spirituality).
People often come here for the purpose of pilgrimage, to receive blessings for spiritual practices. And this is not surprising: after all, Nepal is a deeply religious country. 90% of the country's total population adheres to the Hindu faith, about 5% are Buddhists, and up to 3% of the population are Muslims. Although the main religion is Hinduism, it is actually a mixture of Buddhism and Hinduism.
In the country state language is Nepali, but local residents often use other languages in their speech, for example, Bhojpuri, Gorkhali, Parbatiya, Maithili, Khas-kura, etc. In total, there are more than thirty languages and dialects in Nepal. When it comes to trade and the business sector, the use of English is quite common.
Cities of Nepal
All cities of Nepal
Nature and climate
Nepal is one of the highest mountainous countries in the world. 6/7 of the territory is occupied by a labyrinth of Himalayan ridges, comparable to a giant staircase to transcendental heights, on the steps of which the paths of peoples crossed, languages mixed, religions and cultures came closer together. The length of the country from south to north is only 250 km, but the difference in altitude fluctuations reaches 8600 m, which causes a rapid change in natural landscapes.
The climate is unique in its diverse range in a small space: from tropical to cold (similar to the Arctic, and precipitation ranges from 250 to 3500 mm. Here, banana palms and northern birches are almost neighbors, and the snow leopard lives near the places where tigers and rhinoceroses live. Nepal is an ethnic border zone between peoples of North Indian and Tibeto-Himalayan origin: areas of Buddhist (Lamaist) culture (Main Himalayan) range, Hindu culture (south of the country) and an area of Pahari culture, combining the features of Buddhist and Hindu culture (Middle Nepal), are distinguished.
In the area between the Maharabhat Range and the Greater Himalayas is the vital center of Nepal - the Kathmandu Valley. Here in close proximity are the three oldest cities of the country: the capital Kathmandu (founded in the 8th century), Lalitpur or Patan, Bhaktanpur. Pilgrimage to holy places is a typical phenomenon for Nepal. Not far from Kathmandu there are the Pashapatinah temple complex, the Muktinah and Mahendranath temples, an ancient sculpture of the god Vishnu (7th century).
In the most remote and inaccessible corner of the country - the high-mountainous Northern Nepal - the Sagarmatha National Park was opened in 1976. Small planes from Kathmandu bring tourists and climbers here. Hotels were built here, and guest services became the main income of the local population. The mountains of Nepal have trails for rafting and trekking.
Culture
Nepalese society is predominantly rural. Social life in villages revolves around the family, which is headed by the father. As the family grows, sons tend to separate from their parents in search of additional land. When dividing the family's property, it is divided into equal parts among the sons. Therefore, each family's land holdings are extremely fragmented. Often, villagers pool their resources and strength to create irrigation canals. The staple foods in most parts of the country are rice, barley, millet and potatoes.
Nepali women are universally dependent on men and have little access to education, economic resources and political power. Their plight, however, varies from one ethnic group to another. Among the peoples of the Sino-Tibetan family, the status of women is relatively higher than in the Indo-Nepalese communities. In general, women's work is harder and longer than men's. They are forced to take care of the household, carry water, feed animals and work in the fields. Women in upper class families have housekeepers.
A revival of artistic and intellectual life in Nepal occurred after the overthrow of the Rana regime. Nepali works of poetry and literature emphasize patriotism and national pride. Nepali artists are inspired by Hindu and Buddhist religious values. The lives of gods, saints and heroes, the relationship of the individual with society and the universe are reflected in sculpture, architecture and drama. The Kathmandu Valley is home to numerous temples and shrines. Folk music and dance are widespread. Religious ceremonies take place to the accompaniment of drums and musical instruments. In rural areas, religious songs are an important part of cultural life. Radio Nepal programs broadcast folk music to help preserve the country's traditional culture.
Attractions
Especially many sights have been preserved in the capital of Nepal - Kathmandu. Genuine center ancient architecture here is Darbar. This is the square that contains the Taleju Temple, the old royal palace that gives the city its name, the Kastamandal Temple, the palace of the living goddess.
12 kilometers from the capital is the town of Lalitpur, which has practically merged with Kathmandu. The town was founded in 229, so in its center you can find a concentration large quantity Hindu temples and ancient Buddhist pagodas. In 1723, the Krishna Mandir temple was built in honor of the eight wives of King Malla. After the death of their husbands, these women accepted sati (self-immolation).
There is a legend according to which, on the border of Nepal and India, in the town of Lumbini, the Indian princess Maya gave birth to Prince Siddhartha Gautama. To this day, believers around the world protect this place. For many years in a row, archaeologists have been conducting excavations and research at this site. Each Buddhist country contributed to the creation of the local memorial park, as well as to the construction of many Buddhist temples in the town.
In the northeast, near Kathmandu, there is another place of worship - the Namo Buddha Monastery and Temple. According to legend, it was there that Buddha fed his flesh to a hungry tigress so that the animal could feed its cubs. There is a hotel attached to the temple where you can stay for several days.
Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest shrines in Nepal. It lies just north of Kathmandu, at a distance of 10 kilometers.
One of the most important Hindu gods - Vishnu (or Narayaya) - is especially revered in Bhaktapur (translated from Sanskrit as “city of believers”). There are more than ten temples dedicated to this god, as well as many other religious buildings that are simply priceless. On the main square of this city there is a palace where the royal Malla dynasty used to live. There are 55 windows in the building, the carving patterns of which are never repeated. The Golden Gate, located next to the palace, will take you to the Hindu temple. Opposite the gate stands a monument to Bhupatindra Malla, a 17th-century ruler. The city is also decorated with the five-tiered Nyatapola Pagoda.
The most mystical and exciting journey will be a trip to Lo and Mustang (a kingdom within a kingdom). It is located in the north-west of the country, on the Tibetan border. Today, approximately 8,000 people live in the Lo oasis. All of them keep the secrets of ancient manuscripts. The capital of the kingdom is located at an altitude of 4,000 meters on a high plateau, which is hidden by mountain rivers, seven passes and mountain gorges.
Near the Indian border, in the Terai Valley, you can explore the Nepalese jungle. The Chitwan Valley, between the Rapti and Narayani rivers, has been famous as a hunting ground for rhinoceroses and tigers since the reign of the Rana dynasty. This area was taken under state protection after it was declared a National Park in 1973. The area of the park is 1040 square kilometers. Rhinoceroses, wild elephants and buffaloes, bears and Bengal tigers live in their natural environment on its territory.
Be sure to visit the resort towns of Nagarkokt and Pokhara, which attract the bulk of tourists due to their crystal clear air and amazing scenery. The second resort town lies on the shores of Lake Feva-Tal. In the very center of the lake there is an island on which there is a Hindu temple. In the vicinity of the town there are many monasteries, sacred caves, waterfalls and lakes. This is where most of the hiking trails and routes to the mountains come from. Pokhara is also home to the largest bazaar in the country. It stretches for 7 kilometers, and here you can buy absolutely everything.
All sights of Nepal
Kitchen
Local cuisine is simple, but respects traditions. Frequent guests on the table are lentils, rice, beans, and sometimes meat or vegetables are added to dishes. If you want to try interesting National dishes, order “momo” (something like dumplings) or “dl-bat” (rice with lentil soup and various sauces).
The use of a large number of spices is especially common among Nepalese - not a single dish can do without them. Be prepared for the fact that Nepalese cuisine will be too spicy for you.
The cost of one serving in restaurants and cafes is pretty cheap. True, due to the fact that more and more tourists travel to Nepal every year, a large number of new restaurants are opening that are designed for wealthy visitors.
Roxy, Nepalese rice vodka, is considered a traditional alcoholic drink. Sometimes its strength can exceed 40 degrees. You can also try Rakshi rice moonshine in the countryside (but keep in mind that it is very strong).
Accommodation
The country's hotel business is not very developed, so hotels can only be found in major cities Nepal and in the capital.
As for small settlements and towns, so-called guesthouses (guest houses) are popular here. The number of beds in a room can be up to six, and amenities are usually located in the courtyard (rarely on the floor). There is often a shower, but due to low temperatures it cannot always be used. Bed linen may not be provided in such shelters.
For those who prefer comfortable and lived-in tourist places, we recommend going to Thamel - a tourist area of Kathmandu, aimed at European guests. There are hotels with excellent service, and there are also modest hotels. The price for a room in a five-star hotel can reach $250 per knock.
If you want to experience the whole local atmosphere, we recommend accommodation in the Frick Street area of Kathmandu. In the 60s, this place was chosen by hippies, after which it got its name. Of course, the level of comfort and services here is much lower, but it attracts no less tourists who prefer an authentic holiday. Room prices in this area start at $10.
When looking for a room, keep in mind: it is advisable to choose housing with windows facing the courtyard, otherwise it will be very difficult for you to rest and sleep. Be prepared for the fact that the stated stars in hotels do not always correspond to the actual state of things.
Entertainment and relaxation
People go to Nepal not only for the beautiful views - there is a lot of entertainment for those who prefer to have an active holiday.
Bicycle tours or biking are very popular among tourists. Local experts can organize a cycling tour with camping. You can bring your own bike or rent one in Kathmandu or other cities.
Local rafting is one of the best in the world. Many mountain rivers originate in the Himalayas, and they provide lovers of such recreation with the opportunity to try their hand. Both beginners and experienced extreme sports enthusiasts can get their dose of adrenaline here.
Mountaineering is quite common in Nepal, but conquering mountain peaks without the necessary experience is not recommended here: the mountain slopes are too steep. In addition, there is a high probability of avalanches.
If you prefer quieter activities, you can hire a guide and walk with him through the local jungle. Here you can observe entire families of rhinoceroses and elephants, but encounters with a Bengal tiger are very rare. Perhaps the beast also avoids meeting humans because of its genetic memory of the times when it was exterminated on a large scale just to please the nobility.
Another way to walk through the jungle is to go canoeing down the river.
The jungle is home to more than 100 species of reptiles, including cobra and python. But you don’t have to worry about your safety - a local guide will do this for you. All that is required of you is to follow all his instructions and recommendations.
Shopping
Tourists will be pleasantly surprised by the number of shops, markets and other places where you can buy various traditional exotic handicrafts. These can be crafts in ethnic style, jewelry, national clothing and other delights that empty the wallets of tourists.
Surprisingly, the quality of Nepali items is quite high. Most of the goods are made by hand, but you can also “run into” a cheap fake - be careful.
There is a wide variety of clothing in Nepal. From here you can bring a wonderful souvenir in the form of homespun cloth with traditional embroidery, a cotton shirt with funny inscriptions and drawings, or other national clothing. The bulk of the shops are located in Thamel and in the areas surrounding this part of the city.
If you are a jewelry lover, then the selection of rings and bracelets, necklaces made of wood, yak bone, stones and strings of beads will definitely please you.
Very often, guests take away souvenirs made of bronze or other metals. These can be bells, deity figurines, Tibetan singing cups. All this is very beautiful, but expensive.
But perhaps the most valuable gift from Nepal in every sense is a carpet. There are also Tibetan carpets, the history of which dates back 2,000 years ago. They are brought here by traders from Tibet, so prices can be significantly inflated. It is much more profitable to buy a carpet from Nepal: it is not inferior in quality to Tibetan.
People rarely leave Nepal without traditional wooden masks or other wood products. You can choose a mask of any religion - Hindu, Buddhist, as well as with any mood (scary, funny or amusing).
Remember that the cost of products (carpets, tea) will be lower in places that are far from tourist centers.
Bargaining is encouraged in these places. True, there are a couple of points - you can’t haggle in those stores that have a fixed price, and you shouldn’t haggle with Tibetans.
Transport
There are about 44 airports in Nepal. Some of them are designed to work during the rainy season.
There are a lot of passengers at peak times, so even if you have a plane ticket, be sure to call the airport a couple of days before departure and confirm your intention. This is necessary so that your name does not accidentally “jump out” from the list or disappear, which, unfortunately, also happens.
The main way to travel around the country is by bus. It's also the cheapest and most popular, so don't be surprised if you come across an extremely crowded box on wheels. Local residents often use this type of transport to transport small livestock and birds, which means the trip will be fun.
A more convenient option for tourists would be minibus. But as an alternative, you can go on a few tourist buses, which are more comfortable, but they are also more expensive.
There are practically no railways in Nepal.
Trolleybuses and buses (although they do not have a regular schedule or clear route), taxis and minibuses, motorcycle and pedicabs operate in the capital.
Tourists most often use taxis, payment for which is made by prior arrangement.
Rickshaws are an accessible and inexpensive way to get around. Be sure to use their services if you are in an eastern country for the first time.
In addition, you can rent a car, although for this you will need an international driving license. It is especially popular to rent bicycles and motorcycles in Nepal.
Connection
Mobile communications in Nepal are in the PDC format, which is not compatible with GSM phones, so when buying SIM cards locally, rent or buy a phone as well. Nepal Telecom is considered the main operator, but it covers only the territory of the capital, Pokhara and nearby areas. Recently, the company has been trying to actively expand its coverage area. Cellular communications will not work in mountainous areas of the country.
Roaming between Russia and Nepal will be possible only through Thuraya satellite communications, for which you need to purchase or rent a special mobile phone.
In general, telephone communications in this country are poorly developed. Only in the capital and very large cities can you find pay phones. The most convenient way to make international calls is through a call center or through an operator at a hotel.
Safety
Since September 2012, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nepal has introduced a mandatory condition for climbers and tourists: when visiting the country, they must be accompanied by at least one mountain guide or Nepalese Sherpa. All this is done for the safety of guests of the country, where there are frequent cases of disappearances of foreign tourists. One Sherpa will need to pay from $10 per day.
Although Nepal has a very low crime rate, avoid walking alone in the evening and keep large sums of money and valuables in safes.
When driving, remember that in Nepal, traffic is on the left side of the road, and driving rules are only conditionally respected by other participants. There are no pedestrian crossings or traffic lights.
Real estate
In Nepal, the real estate market is developing at a tremendous pace. The construction of residential buildings and apartments is actively underway here. New settlements and cities are being built on the plateau regions. However, you will not find a large number of real estate offers, and the whole point is in the specific economic and political system of the country.
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. This is why demand for real estate has dropped by almost 100%. There is practically no talk about residential real estate, because it is of very low quality, because most houses do not have communications.
Experts recommend purchasing luxury, expensive real estate in Nepal, for example, villas or cottages in the capital Kathmandu. The estimated price of such a home will be 120,000 € (14 rooms). Moreover, such housing will be radically different in terms of equipment from a conventional residential complex.
When paying local residents, remember that Nepal is a poor country, so large bills are not in use here. Sellers and taxi drivers simply don’t have change, and some currency exchange offices may refuse to accept hundred-dollar bills for exchange. Use only intact, undamaged, clean bills, otherwise the money simply will not be accepted.
As for the customs regime, all things are subject to mandatory thorough inspection. Video cameras, watches, bicycles, and electrical household goods are required to be declared, as they are subject to mandatory export from the country.
You cannot export precious stones and metals, horns and skins of wild animals, or the animals themselves, outside the country.
To export antique items, you need to obtain a special certificate at the place of purchase. And to export paintings, icons and metal statues depicting gods, you will need permission from the Nepal Archeology Department.
It is also prohibited to import and export Nepalese national currency. If you have some local money left, you can exchange it for another currency at the airport before your flight.
Since currency “changers” are found here at every step, you should know that using their services is officially prohibited.
It is not customary to leave a tip here, but it is acceptable. If you really liked the service, you just need to shake your head negatively in the direction of the change so that the staff understands that they can keep the money.
There is a whole set of rules of conduct in Nepalese stupas and monasteries, since they occupy a special place in the life of the Nepalese who spend most of their time there.
- Religious Buddhist buildings should be walked around clockwise from the left.
- You cannot bring leather goods into the territory of temples (by the way, this also applies to shoes).
- Believers, as well as their offerings to the gods, should never be touched.
- Women should not touch monks.
- It is forbidden to wash your face with water that flows into a water prayer mill.
- It is better to wear closed clothing on excursions, otherwise you risk being harshly judged by local residents.
Remember that Nepalese are very unpunctual. The thing is that they have a different attitude to the concept of time. It happens that, having agreed on a meeting, Nepalese can wait for each other for a day.
The local population has its own system for calculating a person's age. A newborn here already has a year in reserve. And if a person devoted a year of his life to a monastery, then this year is not counted when calculating his own age.
In Nepal you should not give or receive anything with your left hand. There is no toilet paper in the country, and Nepalese use their left hand for hygiene purposes. Therefore, she is considered “unclean.”
As for eating, there are also rules. You can eat and take food only with your right hand. It is unacceptable to try food from someone else's plate or simply touch someone else's dish. Residents of Nepal drink so as not to touch the cup or jug with their lips.
If you are at the market, you should not touch the products that are laid out on the tray. You can do this only after the seller himself puts them in the bag for you.
Nepalese people don't usually use cutlery, but they are found in almost every home. It is customary here to eat twice a day. There is a very limited choice of dishes on the table. If Nepalese are expecting guests, the latter bring treats with them.
In this country it is prohibited by law to kill animals and cut down green spaces.
Visa information
Regarding visa issues, full information in Moscow can be obtained from the Nepalese Embassy, which is located at 2nd Neopalimovsky Lane, 14/7. You can reach the embassy by phone (+7 495) 244-0215 or by email: [email protected].
Nepal visa will be paid upon arrival in the country. To complete it, you will need a passport photo. The cost of the visa will depend on the number of days you stay in the country.
If you come to Nepal for trekking, you will need to additionally obtain a permit for this from the Nepal Immigration Department, as well as make a cash contribution from $10 to $700 for seven days. But there are also areas for which a permit is not required to visit (for example, Langtang, Everest, Rara, Annapurna).
Healthcare, education, media
Nepal is one of the least economically developed countries and ranks one of the last in the world in terms of living standards. The annual per capita income is $220. Almost half the population is below the poverty line. The social security system is poorly developed.
The health care structure is poorly developed. Among the diseases, especially in rural areas, endemic goiter, which is associated with iodine deficiency, otitis, poliomyelitis, typhus, tuberculosis and dysentery, predominate. In some areas, especially in the highlands, cases of leprosy occur. Thanks to special programs, the incidence of smallpox and malaria has been significantly reduced, especially in the Terai region. Malnutrition remains a serious problem, especially in mountainous and foothill areas, where people often experience food shortages. Infant mortality is 71 per 1,000 live births (2003).
In 1990, Nepal had 123 hospitals with 3,600 beds (1 bed per 4,283 people). Out-of-hospital care was provided by 18 medical centers and 816 medical posts.
Under the rule of the Rana family, only the upper class had access to education. A system of free and compulsory primary education for all children has existed since 1975.
All children between 6 and 10 years old are required to attend primary school. In the 1994–1995 academic year. year their number reached 3.2 million (or about 80% of the corresponding age group). After its completion, they can enter high school, which consists of two levels (3 and 2 years of study). In the 1994–1995 academic year. 944 thousand students attended secondary schools in 2014, which is only 37% of children aged 11 to 15 years (48.7% of all boys and 25% of girls, respectively). Economic and cultural factors remain barriers to continued education, such as prejudice against girls' education and the high use of child labor.
The largest scientific and The educational center– University named after Tribhuvana in Kathmandu (founded in 1958 on the basis of Trichandra College). It includes 69 colleges. The main higher educational institutions of the country are Sankrit University. Mahendra University (Kathmandu, founded in 1986), Kathmandu University (founded in 1991), Pokhara University (founded in 1966) and Purbanchal University (Biratnagar, founded in 1995). In the capital's Tribhuvan University in 1990 there were 71 thousand students.
In 1990, Nepal began a 12-year literacy program aimed at educating 8 million people. aged from 6 to 45 years. As a result, the literacy rate among the population over 15 years of age increased from 25% in 1991 to 45.2% in 2003. However, there is a large gap between the literacy rate among men (62.7%) and women (27.6%). The literacy rate of urban residents is much higher than that of rural residents.
The largest libraries are located in Kathmandu - the National Library (35 thousand volumes and 7500 ancient manuscripts), the University Library. Tribhuvana (40 thousand volumes), Central Library, National Museum of Nizhny Novgorod (founded in 1938).
According to official data, by the end of 2000, 1,536 daily, weekly and fortnightly newspapers were registered throughout the country, representing various political movements, topics, cultures, ethnic groups and interests. Most newspapers are published in Kathmandu, the largest among them are Gorkhapatra (Gurkha Newspaper, since 1901, circulation 75 thousand copies), Nepali (Nepali, since 1958, circulation 43 thousand copies). There are three main English-language daily newspapers: Kathmandu Post, Space Time Today and Rising Nepal. The total circulation of all newspapers is over 250 thousand copies. Kathmandu is home to the pro-government National News Agency (Rashtriya Samachar Samiti - RSS).
The government owns Radio Nepal (founded in 1951) and National Television of Nepal. Radio Nepal covers the entire country with its broadcasts on short and medium waves; broadcasts are conducted in Nepali and English languages. There are 43 registered private FM radio stations (HBC 94 FM, Radio Sagarmatha, Kantipur FM, etc.) broadcasting their own news broadcasts. The state-owned National Television of Nepal has been operating since 1986. There are also five private television channels broadcasting mainly entertainment programs. There are almost 200 cable television operators in cities, and satellite dishes are common. About 840,000 radio and 170,000 television receivers are registered (1997). Per 1 thousand inhabitants There are an average of 39 radios and 7 televisions.
The use of computer technology and the Internet is rapidly increasing in cities. Access to the Internet is provided by six Internet Providers (ISPs). In general, per 1 thousand inhabitants. accounting for 11.6 telephones, 2.7 computers and 0.05 Internet access. The number of Internet users is more than 60 thousand (as of 2002).
Since the declaration of a state of emergency (2001), freedom of the press has been somewhat limited. The law strictly prohibits the media from criticizing or ridiculing the king or any member of the royal family. Since the state of emergency was declared, more than 100 journalists have been arrested by security forces, some of them tortured, according to the group Reporters Without Borders.
Economy
According to the UN classification, Nepal is one of the least economically developed countries in the world; almost half of its population lives below the poverty line. The low level of development is determined by the country's isolation, multi-structured economy, feudal remnants, lack of financial resources and natural conditions.
In 2003, Nepal's GDP was $5.85 billion, or $242 per capita. Annual GDP growth rates are low: in 1990–1999 they were less than 5%, in 1999/2000 – 6.5%. Under the influence of the slowdown in global economic growth, the rate of economic growth in 2000 fell to 3.7%. Real GDP growth in 2001/2002 was just 0.8%, the lowest level in 20 years. Although the situation was stabilized the following year, real GDP growth did not exceed 2.4%.
Nepal is predominantly an agricultural country. Agriculture plays an important role in the economy, as does foreign trade and tourism. The share of agriculture in GDP is 40%, industry – 22%, service sector (tourism, trade, transport, etc.) – 37% (2002).
The economic development of the country since 1955 has been carried out on the basis of state plans. During this period, 9 state plans were adopted. The Tenth Plan (2002-2007) is currently being implemented. The focus of the first four plans was on infrastructure development, especially transport and energy. However, many of the tasks set then were not realized. Subsequently, the emphasis of government plans shifted to the development of agriculture and industry, as well as the fight against poverty. Until the mid-1970s, primary attention was paid to the development of the public sector of the economy. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, state industrial production began to sharply decline, private entrepreneurship and foreign investment were encouraged. Beginning in May 1991, the government set a course for liberalizing the economy, encouraging foreign investment. The government has cut public spending by cutting subsidies, reducing the number of civil servants, privatizing industrial enterprises and freezing unpromising development projects. The most promising sectors: manufacturing, tourism, energy, services, forestry and agriculture.
The economically active population is more than 10 million people (1996). IN agriculture 81% of the workforce is employed, the service sector – 16%, industry – 3%. Unemployment rate 47% (2001).
Story
Once upon a time, the Kathmandu Valley lay at the bottom of a huge mountain lake. After the earthquake, the water of the lake receded (according to legend, the bodhisattva Manjushri cut the water with a magic sword, according to another legend it was Krishna, who, with the help of a staff, formed the Chobar gorge through which the water flowed), and the valley was populated by numerous people from the surrounding regions, who formed the Newari people . The valley was distinguished by its high fertility, and its population - great talents in arts and crafts, and became famous throughout East Asia.
Nepal has experienced periods of prosperity and decline. Even before our era, Buddhism came to Nepal, and Nepal was a stronghold of Buddhism throughout the Himalayan region, as well as an important transit point on trade routes between India, Tibet and China.
The heyday of Nepal occurred during the Newar Malla dynasty, which left the most noticeable mark in the history of Nepal with an abundance of magnificent architectural monuments that have survived to this day, which largely shaped the image of the country in the eyes of the rest of the world. It is not for nothing that the era of Malla’s reign is called the “Golden Era”.
In 1768, the king of the Gorkha kingdom, Prithvi Narayan Shah, conquered the Kathmandu Valley and moved his capital to the city of Kathmandu. Thus began the rule of the Shah dynasty in Nepal, which continued in a straight line to this day, until the monarchical form of government was changed to a republican one.
On September 15, 1846, conspirators led by Jang Bahadur - a young ambitious and cruel aristocrat from the Chhetri caste in western Nepal - carried out a bloody palace coup called the "Kot Massacre". For more than a century, the Rana dynasty of prime ministers ruled the country, and although this period was characterized by isolation and stagnation in almost all areas of life, Nepal managed to maintain its independence while the European colonial powers subjugated almost the entire world.
At the end of 1950, King Tribhuvan left his palace, taking refuge in the Indian Embassy, from where he then fled to India. At this time, supporters of BP Koirala seized power in most of the Terai and formed a Provisional Government in the town of Birgunj, bordering India. Clashes between supporters of the NOC and the Rana dynasty began in Nepal, during which neither force achieved a decisive advantage. India then intervened and its proposed settlement plan was accepted by both sides. In accordance with this plan, King Tribhuvan returned to the capital in 1951 and formed a new government including both Rana supporters and NNC representatives. The century-long isolation of the country was ended. Nepal established relations with many countries of the world.
In 1955, King Tribhuvan died (in particular, the capital’s airport was named after him), and his son Mahendra ascended the throne. He proclaimed a new constitution, according to which a parliamentary system was established in Nepal in 1959. In 1972, King Mahendra died and his son Birendra, who received an excellent education at Eton and Harvard, ascended the throne.
At the same time, the population, most of whom expected an immediate improvement in life after the introduction of democracy, quickly became disillusioned with the ruling party, mass unrest began again in the country, and the government was forced to call early elections in 1994. In these elections, the United Communist Party (Marxist) won -Leninist) under the leadership of Man Mohan Adhikari. A unique political situation was created: a communist government under a theocratic monarchy (Nepal is one of the few countries in which Hinduism is declared the state religion). However, this situation did not last long: already in September 1995, the communist government received a vote of no confidence and was forced to resign, and a three-party coalition of the NNC, the right-wing Rastriya Prajatantra party and the pro-Indian Nepal Sabdhavan Party came to power.
Since 1996, the Maoist opposition in Nepal began to take active action, and civil war has continued in Nepal since then. The government cannot cope with the growing problems, high corruption of officials, and from time to time the country experiences serious crises associated with devastation and famine in remote areas. The high influx of foreign tourists that had taken place in the mid-1990s began to decline and by 2005 had fallen tenfold, further damaging Nepal's economy.
On June 1, 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra, at a traditional dinner dedicated to the meeting of the entire royal family, shot everyone present, and then shot himself. In this case, King Birendra and almost all members of the royal family died. His uncle Gyanendra took the throne.
Trying to stabilize the situation, Gyanendra resorted to a number of unpopular measures, including banning political parties and dissolving the government, alternating active military action against the Maoists with negotiations. Meanwhile, the Maoists took control of a large part of Nepal, while government troops firmly held the Kathmandu Valley, the outskirts of Pokhara, the most populated part of the Terai and areas of the main tourist routes in the vicinity of Everest and Annapurna.
In 2005, the king effectively dissolved parliament.
Opposing the king's authoritarian measures, leading political parties allied with the Maoists. On July 11, 2006, the Nepalese Parliament revoked King Gyanendra's right to veto laws and bills. A month earlier, the deputies unanimously took away the position of supreme commander of the army from the king, deprived him of his immunity (from now on he can be put on trial), and also ordered him to pay taxes. In addition, the deputies decided to henceforth consider Nepal - the only completely Hindu kingdom in the world - to be a “secular state”, thus taking away the title of incarnation of Vishnu from Gyanendra. A coalition government was formed.
On November 21, 2006, the seven-party government made peace with the Maoists, announcing the end of civil war. Under the terms of this deal, the Maoists agreed to lay down their arms. For this, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who became the main figure in the country in May 2006, promised to give the Maoists 73 of the 330 parliamentary seats in the new parliament.
On January 14, 2007, parliament adopted a temporary constitution, according to which the king is deprived of the status of head of state and power functions are transferred to the prime minister. At the same time, the Maoists achieved an increase in representation in parliament to 83 seats, became the largest opposition party and received seats in the cabinet. The Nepal National Congress, led by the Prime Minister, won 85 seats.
Elections to the Constitutional Assembly were scheduled for June 20, 2007. Liberals - supporters of Prime Minister Koirala - believe that Nepal should be a constitutional monarchy, and the king should be placed under indefinite house arrest for suppressing popular demonstrations. At the same time, in northern Nepal, armed Maoist detachments began to hand over weapons to special storage facilities, which will be monitored by international observers. The acceptance of weapons is carried out by a special commission of UN employees and veterans of the British colonial troops from among the Nepalese Gurkha mountaineers.
The elections were postponed to November 22, 2007. At the first meeting, deputies of the Constitutional Assembly would have to decide the fate of the monarchy in Nepal. Although an amendment was adopted to the interim constitution in April 2007, allowing the parliament to do this directly before the elections to the Constitutional Assembly, in the event that the king interferes with the elections to the Constitutional Assembly. After this, deputies of the Constitutional Assembly will have to develop the text of the country’s new fundamental law. The Maoists insist on the final transformation of Nepal into a parliamentary republic and the execution of King Gyanendra. In September, the Maoists put forward a demand for the declaration of a republic and the replacement of the mixed voting system with a proportional one at an extraordinary session of the interim parliament, which opened on October 11, 2007. On October 5, the elections to the Constitutional Assembly were once again postponed indefinitely. The vote on the issue of declaring a republic and replacing the electoral system due to the intervention of pro-monarchist forces (Nepalese Congress, United Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Nepal) has already been postponed three times, first to October 14, then to October 16 and last time to October 29, 2007. On November 4, the extraordinary session ended . By a majority vote, a resolution was adopted to instruct the government to develop draft amendments to the constitution that would allow Nepal to be declared a Republic, as well as change the electoral system from mixed (50% + 50%) to proportional, for consideration at the next session of parliament, which opened on November 19, 2007, but after 11 minutes after the opening, the next meeting was postponed until November 29.
Despite the decision of the Nepali Congress party to vote at the Constitutional Assembly for the establishment of the Republic at the congress on September 22-23, 2007, it was this party, led by Prime Minister Girija Koirala, that was the main obstacle to the establishment of a republican system in the country. Some party members openly stated that they would ignore the decisions of the extraordinary session of parliament on November 4, 2007 on the development of legislation allowing the declaration of a republic at the current session of parliament. The Maoists have put the issue of the Republic and the proportional electoral system at the forefront - as long as the Nepalese Congress prevents the proclamation of the republic and changes in the electoral system, the Maoists will interfere with the resolution of the issue of calling elections to the Constitutional Assembly.
On December 28, 2007, the interim parliament declared Nepal a democratic federal republic. The decision was subject to approval by the Constitutional Assembly, whose elections are scheduled for mid-April next year. Until then, the king of Nepal, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, deprived of real power, continued to live in the royal palace.
On May 28, 2008 at 23:26 local time, the Constituent Assembly of Nepal by a vote of 560 to 4 (members of the monarchical Rashtriya Prajantra Party) declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic. Nepal will be a parliamentary republic. The executive branch will be headed by the Prime Minister. A museum will be located in the liberated royal palace.
Policy
Until 1951 Nepal was an autocratic state where the king was greatly influenced by the feudal nobility. From about 1850 to 1951, real power belonged entirely to the Rana family, whose hereditary monopoly became the post of prime minister. Only as a result of a palace coup in 1950 did the Nepalese monarch manage to restore his rights and establish a rule that was supported by the population of the country.
In 1959, King Mahendra promulgated a constitution that declared Nepal a constitutional monarchy. The first parliamentary elections in the country's history were held. They were won by the Nepali Congress party, whose leader B.P. Koirala became prime minister. However, in 1960, King Mahendra restored direct rule of the country. He created a new cabinet of ministers, entrusting himself with the functions of its head. The parliamentary system was replaced by a four-tier pyramid of panchayats (councils), with only at the lowest, village level their members being directly elected by the population. Political parties were prohibited, and the Prime Minister and ministers, selected from the members of the National Panchayat, were responsible only to the king. The system was formalized in the 1962 constitution.
King Birendra ascended the throne in 1972, after the death of his father. In 1990, the main parties - the Nepalese Congress and the Communist Party - organized street demonstrations, which forced the king to lift a 29-year ban on political organizations. The king approved a new government, which included representatives of the Nepalese Congress and the communists. On November 9, 1990, a new constitution was promulgated, which significantly limited royal rights. According to the current constitution, Nepal is a constitutional monarchy. The form of government is parliamentary democracy. Executive power was vested in the prime minister and his cabinet, who were accountable to the directly elected lower house of parliament.
The Constitution can be amended or repealed by a two-thirds majority of each House of Parliament. The preamble of the constitution, which recognizes the Nepali people as the source of supreme power, is not subject to any amendment. After passing through both houses of Parliament, the constitutional amendment bill must receive royal assent.
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But due to recent events in the country, Nepal ceased to be a kingdom, and Hinduism ceased to be an official religion. In May 2006 Nepal has become a secular country. Islam, Christianity, and Bon are also practiced in Nepal. The Tharu practice animism, while some of the Kirats practice ancestor veneration.
It is impossible to write briefly about Nepal without oversimplification. According to dry statistics, Nepal is 80% Hindu and 10% Buddhist. And in life, Hinduism and two world religions are so intertwined in Nepal that they cannot be separated. Nepal's religious mosaic can be understood if we look into the religious history of the country. The ideas of early Hinduism and Buddhism have little in common with the religions of today. Religious concepts were created through the fusion of various religious schools, theories and trends. Animism, Tantrism, Shaktism, Lamaism had a strong influence on the main beliefs.
In the middle of the 1st millennium BC. The Kirati tribe, who professed Buddhism, came to Nepal from the east, and for eight hundred years Buddhism became the dominant religion here. Its influence waned when other peoples invaded the valley around 300 AD. Hinduism, the religion of these newcomers, has since become the official religion of Nepal. The change from one dominant religion to another took place peacefully and painlessly; many shrines of Nepal are equally revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. This is explained by the fact that Hinduism has never had a complete theological system; it easily absorbs other cults, recognizing new deities as incarnations of its ancient gods. In practice, the country's religion is a strange mixture of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, complemented by a pantheon of tantric deities and animism, an ancient spiritual religion that originated in Tibet. This is a memory of ancient times, when people formed a harmonious whole; the gods of the universe manifested themselves in everything, and people easily communicated with the gods every day. Nepalese even now view their ancient temples and sanctuaries not as cultural heritage, but as sacred places where gods and people contact each other.
It is not for nothing that Nepal is called the “land of festivals”. The most important of them are the Tihar festival of light; Dasain is a celebration of the victory of good over evil; a colorful, truly Rabelaisian festival. Religious people in Nepal are not folklore, not absurd entertainment for tourists. These are solemn and sacred ceremonies under the auspices of gods and people. Nepalese people participate in festivals of both religions with equal zeal and honor the shrines of both faiths.
Hinduism.
Modern Hinduism includes a lot of different metaphysical systems and points of view, often mutually contradictory. Each believer chooses one or another belief that is most suitable for him. Nepal has an endless pantheon of gods and goddesses, their incarnations, manifestations and aspects. The European mind has great difficulty grasping these concepts and subtle differences, especially since Hinduism has up to 33 million gods...
Temples are dedicated to the main gods, and altars to less significant gods. One of the temples is the sanctuary of the monkey king Hanuman. Immediately after birth, it says, Hanuman grabbed it, mistaking it for an edible fruit, and the god Indra barely managed to take the luminary from the voracious baby. The epic “Ramayana” tells how the selflessly noble and powerful Hanuman - he had such strength that he tore hills and mountains from the ground - helped the god Rama to rescue his bride Sita from captivity. In India and Nepal, monkeys are considered, if not direct descendants of the divine Hanuman, then at least his relatives. Nepalese believe that they understand human speech and know how to talk - they just hide it so that they are not forced to work.
In Hinduism there is no priesthood in the usual sense. Brahmins, who perform the duties of priests, do not take any special vows, live an ordinary life in the world, run a household and have a family. People who have renounced the world and dedicated themselves to one of the Hindu gods are called. They lead an ascetic lifestyle, and the people consider them sages. It is to sadhus, and not to brahmin priests, that Nepalese usually go with their sorrows or when they need to make a decision. Everyone brings something with them - sadhus have no other sources of livelihood.
It is very difficult for foreigners to understand Hinduism due to the huge pantheon of gods until they imagine them as picture representations of the many attributes of a god. One omnipresent god usually has 3 physical images: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer and creator. Vishnu, often depicted flying on Garuda, the bird-man, boasts 10 incarnations, including Rama, Krishna, Buddha... Shiva may be called by a thousand names, but these are his manifestations. Shiva is probably most revered in Nepal as the destroyer and creator. He travels around the world on a bull and holds a trisul (trident) in his hand. Often Shiva appears as a phallic lingam, his creative role. Shiva is also known as Nataraj, the god of dance, who shook the cosmos and created the world. Sometimes Shiva is depicted as a wandering hermit sadhu, overgrown and in rags, smoking hashish - in short, a disgrace to the pantheon!
The son of Shiva with the head of an elephant is very loved and popular in Nepal. This is the god of luck, wisdom and prosperity, the patron of male potency. Gods are everywhere - inside the temples and nearby, the gods are not formidable, but supportive, winking, in a word, like painted toys!
But are there living gods? Nepal has everything. This is a living virgin - Kumari. And again a paradox: the king, himself an incarnation of the god Vishnu, received a blessing from Kumari, a 5-6 year old girl, chosen by the goddess from a Buddhist family. The goddess is chosen from girls aged 5-6 years, guided by very complex criteria. The girl remains a goddess until she loses at least a drop of blood for any reason. After this, she is given a good dowry, but it is not so easy for a retired goddess to marry - it is believed that she will be marred by all sorts of misfortunes. The Kumari cult is a striking example of the interweaving of two religions, as well as the extreme religious liberalism and open-mindedness of the Nepalese.
A real crucible of religions. The mixture of religions is most evident in the Kathmandu Valley. Don't be surprised if you find images of Hindu gods in Buddhist temples or Buddhist images in Hindu temples. The Shaivist symbol of fertility, the lingam contained in the yoni, is revered by Buddhists as “flaming in a sacred spring.” Hindus consider the lingam and yoni as the main elements of male and female energy. At the most sacred Hindu temple, Pashupatinath, the Shiva linga is covered with a Buddha mask once a year! In Swayambhunath (Buddhist complex), Hindus worship the deity Swayambhu as Shiva, although for Buddhists Swayambhu is . The male deity Lokeshvara/Machendranath is a mixture of Shiva, saint Machendranath and the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The female deity / is revered by Buddhists as Tara.
Buddhism.
Strictly speaking, Buddhism is not a religion (it does not have the idea of God), but a philosophical system and moral code. Buddha developed the "rule of the middle path", i.e. moderation in everything. In Nepal, Tibetan Buddhism, which absorbed elements of Bon shamanism and especially Tantrism, a legacy of medieval India, had a strong influence on Buddhist teachings. In Nepal, the Vajrayana, or “Way of Thunderclap”, predominates, where the emphasis is on meditation using mantras and mandalas, direct experience and esotericism.
Of all the holy places for Buddhists, and there are a great many of them in Nepal, the most revered temple complex is in, a small town near the Indian border. According to legend, it was here 700 BC. On the day of the May full moon, on the shore of a lake under the shade of a spreading tree, Queen Maya gave birth to a son, Siddhartha, whose name translates as “who fulfilled his destiny.” The boy's birth was accompanied by many signs, and one hundred and eight wise men gathered in Lumbini to interpret them. They announced that Siddhartha would become either a great ruler or a teacher such as had never been seen on Earth. Over the years, the prince achieved complete enlightenment and became the first Buddha, the founder of a new religion.
The fact that Buddha was born in Lumbini is evidenced by writings on a column installed 300 years after his death by King Ashoka. It was through the efforts of Ashoka that Buddhism spread to most of South Asia.
Despite the fact that Nepal is the birthplace of Buddha, Buddhism came to the country from the northeast, from the territory of modern China. To this day, there are Chinese Buddhist temples and... Above the entrance to one of the temples, instead of Sanskrit script, Chinese characters are inscribed, and the pot-bellied Buddha statues decorating its interior are clearly made in the Chinese, rather than Indo-Nepalese, manner. The production of traditional Buddha figurines is especially developed in the city of Patan, the second largest after Kathmandu. The main materials are soft volcanic and bronze. This work is painstaking, and ordinary Nepalese cannot pay a lot of money for figurines. It is considered good luck when an order comes from European Buddhists or monasteries.
In the Himalayas, and especially in Nepal, there are a lot of geomantic points-centers that give strength and energy to those who visit them. Three outstanding religious complexes - the Hindu Pashupatinath and the Buddhist Swayambhunath - are only part of the numerous energy centers of the Kathmandu Valley.
IN Nepal objects of art, classical and modern, are used in daily religious practice. Unique creations are easy to find in temples and other religious sites. Understanding the intricacies of different religions allows you to fully appreciate the art of Nepal. Nepal is the only country where Hinduism is recognized as the state religion, but Buddhism, Islam and many other religions are also practiced here. What they all have in common is daily religious expression. In the morning, people gather in temples to offer offerings and puja to the gods.
Hinduism.
The word Hinduism emerged in the 19th century to define the core beliefs of the Aryan immigrants who left Central Asia in 1500 BC. and local Indians.
Main ideas: heavenly law governs the state of the world, man is aware of and respects heavenly law. Lead your life in a proper Hindu manner, follow the rules and all rituals, accept your birth caste. The caste system determines the code of conduct and performance of rituals, affecting all aspects of life: occupation, meals, weddings, etc.
Principles of Hinduism. Drachma is a religious law and moral code, by acting on which one can obtain enlightenment. Karma is the balance of present life and past reactions. A life lived properly will bring about rebirth into better life. Samsara is a cycle of reincarnations determined by karma. Moksha is liberation from samsara, in which the individual unites with the universal time space of past and future, final clarity, i.e. Nirvana.
Each deity has different names, different symbols, attributes, manifestations. The main Hindu gods are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
Brahma is the creator of the Universe. Attributes are a rosary, a source of holy water, a ladle and books. Brahma is usually represented as having four heads, which allows him to observe the world. The number of existing Brahma statues is small.
Saraswati, wife of Brahma, is the goddess of knowledge and music. She is often depicted playing the vina (seven-string musical instrument) with a rosary and a book, seated in a lotus on a peacock or swan, often with a crescent moon on her forehead. Buddhists worship her as one of the forms of Manjushri, the wisdom of the Bodhisattva.
Vishnu is the guardian of life and peace. Attributes - conch shell, disc, lotus and rod. Incarnation: Garuda, the mythical bird-man. It often appears in some of the following forms:
Narayan, which means "one who explores all branches", or universal knowledge.
Buddha, ninth reincarnation of Vishnu.
Rama, the warrior who saved his wife Sita from Ravan, the demon king of the island of Ceylon.
Krishna, the embodiment of masculinity, was bewitched by the milkmaids and shepherdesses with whom he frolicked. The Rama and Krishna forms are the most popular in India.
Shiva - destruction and restoration. Attributes - trident, tambourine, tiger skin, lingam (phalos). Incarnation - Nandi, a buffalo.
Pashupati, owner and protector of animals, especially cattle.
Bairav, a form of Shiva who seeks to destroy everything, including evil. His statue is usually black, wearing a necklace of human skulls.
Hanuman, the monkey god. Symbolizes loyalty and willingness to help. Associated with successful military actions, Rama helped in the fight against King Ravana, who imprisoned his wife Sita for 12 years.
Ganesh (Ganapathi), one of the most popular gods in Nepal. Infallible, benevolent and of great power, it can decide the outcome of any human undertaking. Son of Shiva and Parvati. One day, Shiva found Parvati with her lover, and deciding that Ganesh was not his son, he tore off his head. At Parvati's request, Shiva promised to restore Ganesh's life by beheading the first living creature he encountered in the forest. He saw an elephant, cut off its head, rushed back and put it in the place of Ganesh's head. Ganesh is usually dressed in red, has four arms, and his body is covered with layers of sandalwood. The embodiment is a shrew, sometimes a rat or a mouse, therefore all these animals are sacred.
Parvati, wife of Shiva. Benevolent manifestations: Devi, Yuma, Shakti or Annapurna (bringer of abundance). Evil manifestations: Kali, Durga and Bhagavati
Buddhism.
Based on the thoughts of Gautama Siddharta (GAUTAMA SIDDHARTA), also called Sakvamuni (on behalf of the sage from the Sakwa clan), who later became Buddha (enlightened).
The philosophical doctrine and code of conduct is based on three jewels: the Buddha himself, the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha), and the Sangha - the society of Buddhists.
Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, in 544 BC, the son of a rajah (as wealthy landowners are called) who were searching for the cause of human misfortune. As a result of experiments and travels, he achieved enlightenment through meditation in Bodh Gaya.
Dharma is the doctrine of four truths discovered through meditation:
1. Existence is misery.
2. Everything in life brings suffering: birth, satisfaction of life's needs and death. The beginning of suffering lies in the needs and desires of people and the desire to possess material values (the illusion of feelings).
3. Unhappiness is born of selfish desires and passions.
4. Selfish desires can be eliminated by desires of renunciation in the following eight main ways:
1. Correct recognition (regarding the law of causality).
2. Correct thinking.
3. Correct speech.
4. Right action.
5. Right life.
6. Correct work.
7. Proper vigilance and self-discipline.
8. Correct concentration.
Sangha is a society of Buddhists. Initially used to refer to a society of monks, but later this concept expanded. Shows the path to enlightenment.
About 100 years after the death of the Buddha, society became conflicted about the path to enlightenment. The traditional Theravada school of Buddhism follows the original teachings of the Buddha. The Mahayana school made some changes regarding the path to enlightenment (Zen appeared).
A bodhisattva is a person who has achieved enlightenment, but instead of going to nirvana, chose to teach others to achieve enlightenment.
Tantrism.
The spread of the Ahayan school began in the first century AD. on the outskirts of India. Hindus and Buddhists were in contact with animist religions and adopted some of their beliefs and exercises: yoga (physical exercises necessary to control body functions), mantras (multiple repetition of magical syllables). Ultimately transformed into Lamaism, also widespread in Nepal. Such methods serve the purpose of shortening the road to enlightenment.
Prayer Flags and Prayer Drums carry prayers into the sky. Prayer wheels are rotated clockwise to send mantras into the sky. Usually it is a copper cylinder with prayers written in Sanskrit. Inside the drum lies a parchment on which the Tibetan spell OM MANI PADME HUM is printed repeatedly. Some translations of this mantra:
- Oh, the jewel hidden in the lotus.
- One specific interpretation of this spell is the same prayer of Bodhisattva Padmapani: O Padmapani, give me the lotus jewel, which is a blessing in achieving nirvana through the teachings of the Buddha.
- More general interpretation: O jewel resting in the lotus, the Buddha's teaching remains pure in our minds and souls.
