A small nation squeezed between the Indian and Chinese borders, Nepal with its 30 million individuals is a tremendously multi-ethnic society with over 100 ethnic teams and 92 totally different languages.
It is as fascinating because it sounds, however what struck me probably the most throughout my go to final April is the next attention-grabbing cultural details .
7 Surprising Cultural Facts About Nepal
1) The Swastika and David Star: Don’t get stunned should you see them collectively
As I used to be strolling in one of many facet streets in Kathmandu, I used to be astonished to see the Swastika crafted on the gate of tiny little temple along with the Star of David. It intrigued me for a couple of days after, as I saved seeing it ceaselessly throughout town, until I made a decision to ask a neighborhood.
And it turned out that each are … purely Hindu symbols!
The Swastika is a really sacred image in Hinduism representing auspiciousness. As for the David Star or Hexagram, it represents the emergence of the female and male, with the upward triangle representing Shiva (the masculine facet of God) and the downward triangle representing Shakti (its female facet).
2) The Sand Mandala: A reminder that nothing lasts eternally
While in Nepal, you’ll come throughout mandalas displayed in each nook of the nation: i retailers, eating places, streets, Mandalas are one of the crucial lovely colourful geometrical designs your eyes would ever see. Usually printed on fabric or paper, the Mandala is a non secular image of each Hinduism and Buddhism used for meditation. Its circle form is available in totally different colours, with meticulously painted patterns and symbols.
But what was so distinctive to Nepal is the Tibetan Sand Mandala. Building one Sand Mandala requires a staff work of a number of monks and it takes a number of weeks to assemble on account of its sophisticated and detailed construction. After its completion, the Sand Mandala is utilized by Tibetan Buddhists for a one time meditation, solely to be completely destructed straight after . Its destruction is a symbolic solution to commemorate the Buddhist highest worth of “detachment” and the ephemerality of life and the world.
3) The Dhal Bath: An all day meal
The Nepali delicacies doesn’t have a lot varieties, however the nation’s conventional dish, the Dhal Bath, is a lot filled with flavors, spices and above all, very fulfilling and wholesome. What was stunning is that every one Nepalese eat this quiet heavy meal no less than twice a day typically even thrice. The Dhal Bath comes on a tray with 5 small bowls containing lentils, cooked greens (or hen), curry paneer (a Nepali cheese), steamed spinach, chili sauce, pickles and a big bowl of rice within the center. It is eaten basically round 10 am, then once more round 5pm.
Nepalese should eat utilizing their proper hand, as it’s thought-about gross and culturally disrespectful to the touch meals with the left hand. The purpose? … This is the hand reserved for cleansing within the enjoyable room, to place it properly 🙂
4) The Year 2072: Living sooner or later
One specific store caught my consideration as I used to be wandering within the slender streets of Kathmandu. It learn “established in 2051”. At first I believed it was perhaps my eyes that could not see, or a joke!… But no! A number of days later as I continued my journey to go to the gorgeous metropolis of Pokhara, a celebratory ambiance was taken over the streets. The massive day got here!
It turned to be the Nepali New Year’s Eve, in April! Celebrating the start of the 12 months 2072.
Nepal makes use of Lunar months and Solar sidereal 12 months, therefore they ended up 57 years past us.
5) The Stupa: The 13 phases to enlightenment
The Stupa is a geometrical development that stands in lots of squares throughout Nepal. The greatest and most sacred of all of them for Buddhists are present in Bouddhanath and Swayambunath (a should go to though partialy destroyed after the earthquake).
The Stupa consists of a dome that symbolizes the Universe, with a cubical development over it on which the Buddha eyes are painted on the 4 sides. The entire factor is topped with pyramid like construction consisting of 13 pinnacles, that are believed to be the 13 totally different phases one has to undergo as a way to attain enlightenment.
The two Buddha eyes represents knowledge and compassion, with a 3rd one painted in between radiating his gentle to information these in search of enlightenment.
6) The Moon and the Sun: The world’s solely non-rectangular flag
The form of Nepal’s flag is probably the most distinctive on the earth. Unlike others, it consists of two non-identical triangles symbolizing the Himalaya Mountains, together with the Moon on the primary half and the Sun on the opposite. There are many interpretations of those 2 symbols, the commonest is the moon representing the cool climate of the nation, whereas the solar the fierce resolve of its individuals.
7) The Freak Street: The cradle of the Hippie motion?
Many foreigners who’ve been residing in Nepal for years would inform you that it is proper right here, on this slender avenue subsequent to Kathmandu Durbar Square referred to as Freak Square, that the Hippie motion was born within the 60’s.
What is bound although, is that the Freak Street was the epicenter throughout the Hippie path in early 60’s with most of them residing there. At that point hashish was legally offered by government-run retailers within the Freak Street, which made from it a sort of Hippie Nirvana.
Nepal remains to be one of many prime locations for bohemians, artists and hippies. And though hashish shouldn’t be legally offered anymore, you’ll be able to spot the plant in mountainous areas throughout the nation, and the hemp is extensively used to make sturdy baggage, slippers and bracelets, a should purchase particularly when in Pokhara.
The hottest locations to remain in Nepal embrace Kathmandu, Queenstown and Phokara.
Excited to discover the attention-grabbing Nepali tradition? Search for flights now, and get reserving!
