Nepal

NepalNepal

Biography

• Nepal is located in South Asia. • area -147,181 square kilometers (56,827 sq mi) • population of approximately 27 million• world's 93rd largest country by land mass and

the 41st most populous country. • It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the

north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India.

•  Kathmandu is the nation's capital and largest metropolis.

Holy Sites And Pilgrimage Holy Sites And Pilgrimage DestinationsDestinations

Pashupatinath temple Pashupatinath temple Temple of lord shiva

Changunarayan templeChangunarayan temple

This temple is of Lord Vishnu and it is an old temple built by King Vishnu. This temple is rich in its structural design and architecture.

Swayambhu Maha ChaityaSwayambhu Maha Chaitya

Janaki TempleJanaki Temple

MuktinathMuktinath

• Located in Mustang districtLocated in Mustang district

• site is also known among the Hindus as site is also known among the Hindus as Mukti Chhetra, or the ‘abode of salvation’.Mukti Chhetra, or the ‘abode of salvation’.

Religion Religion

• Hinduism is the main religion- 86% • Buddhism is an equally important

religion in Nepal- 9%• Islam – 3%• Christianity, tantrism and others

are 2%

Religious symbols Religious symbols

• Nepalese art is highly influenced by symbolism.

• Symbols have deep rooted meaning.

BuddhaBuddhafacing the four directions

• BrahmaBrahma

kalash – a water vessel - symbol of the Earth

• Shree yantra

represents the Universal Goddess.

Tika or Red MarkTika or Red Mark

a symbol of good luck

Art and ArchitectureArt and Architecture

Thangka or pauva artThangka or pauva art

•It is prepared on a piece of cotton or silk cloth

Maithili Art• folk painting dominated by

religious themes.

The National MuseumThe National Museum It has three sections - history, art gallery and Buddhist art gallery - housed in three separate buildings.

The Patan MuseumThe Patan Museumone of the best museums in south

Asia

rich collection of Nepalese bronze sculptures

• Museum of Natural History

• Museum of Swayambhu Bikas Mandal

• International Mountain Museum

• Tharu Cultural Museum

Music of NepalMusic of Nepal

• Music is associated to every event of life-festivals, feasts, marriage, birth ceremonies or funeral processions.

• The main genres of Nepali music are pop, rock, folk, and classical.

• There are two types of music:

1.Newari music

-It mainly consists of percussion instruments, some wind instruments and no string instruments.

1.Khas music

- played with number of instruments on occasions such as marriages, birth and other feasts. This tradition is now on decline owing to the growing popularity of television, radio and other means of mass communication.

Mask DancesMask Dances

• represents the culture, religious tradition and belief of the society or community.

• used for different religious purposes, and some gods, particularly Bhairav, is worshipped in mask form.

• In religious dances, masks are used for two purposes:

firstly, for the dancer to receive divine power psychologically

and secondly, to sweep away the onlookers psychologically from reality to the other

Costumes

Nepalese men wear a long shirt, or daura, and trouser, or suruwal

womenfolk wear blouse, or cholo, and sari.

• Daura-Suruwal, typically termed as 'Labeda-Suruwal' is the traditional Nepali dress.

• The Daura has eight strings that serves to tie itself up around the body. Eight is the lucky number in Nepali mythology.

Nepalese FoodNepalese Food

Main meal Dal Bhat (pulses and

rice) eaten twice a day. Nepalese cuisine is

usually spicy and hot.

Famous cuisineFamous cuisine

•Gundrook- Dheedo-sugar free dish•Alu Tama-potato with bamboo shoots•Vegetable Pulao (Fried Nepali Rice)•Masu- meat with gravy•Vegetable Thukpa (Egg Noodles)-•Chatamari- newari pizza made from rice

MeditationMeditation

• It blends the mind and body, giving way to spiritual solace.

• Meditation is believed to bring tranquil harmony to the mind.

All Nepalese households have idols of deities at home. The devotees worship the

gods every morning and evening.

Festivals Festivals

•  Dashain -most important festival of Nepal. Generally Dashain falls right after the end of the monsoon season.

• It is "a day of Victory over Demons".

•  Tihar or Swanti and Chhath are another important festivals of Nepal.

•  Buddha Jayanti (the celebration of the birth of Buddha), Maha Shivaratri (a festival of Lord Shiva),