Growing up in Nepal, I was never told explicitly to follow one religion. As a Buddhist living in a Hindu-majority country, the lines between Hinduism and Buddhism was extremely blurred . Up until 2007 before the government of Nepal declared Nepal a secular country, Nepal was the only country in the world that was declared a Hindu nation. Data from the 2011 Census showed that Nepal had a astounding 81.3% Hindu population, the most of any nation in the world. This growing up caused so much confusion since many of the Hindu symbols and cultures could be related or traced back to some sort of connection to Buddhism. Although Buddhism itself consists of 6-9% of the population, along with Islam, Christianity, and other making up the rest, the intermingling of Buddhism and Hinduism makes up for most of Nepal's history and culture. It is important to note though that although people of various religions lived in a relative close proximity, there has never been a religious war in Nepal. Instead of competing religions, Hinduism and Buddhism in Nepal are seen as variations of similar religions, with people practicing variants and versions of both to some extent.
The story behind the name of Nepal from the Hindu perspective goes where once a sage name "Ne" chose the land that is currently Nepal as a place to perform his religious ceremonies, aka "Pala." From there the name came to be Nepal or the land of Ne.
Since the majority of people in Nepal are Hindu, a lot of the activities and daily lives of Nepalese people revolve around the practices and rituals of Hinduism. For instance, before any auspicious event, major life changes, or other changes in one's life, it is common to perform a Hindu ritual called "puja" as an offering to the gods. There are various different temples built around Nepal to honor the various gods present in Hinduism. Usually, these temples range from large temples such as the Pashupatinath Temple or tiny temples or places of worship built in the community spaces. The Pashupatinath Temple, located in the heart of the Kathmandu Valley, is regarded as one of the most holy temples in Hinduism, leading to the temple being a spot of pilgrimage for Hindus around the world. Even inside and around the Kathmandu Valley, it is common to find temples, stupas, mosques, and churches next to each other. The more historical areas, such as Mangal Bazar, will have more of a blend of Hindu and Buddhist culture with visible art, buildings, music, and more on display.
One of the most prominent influences of Hinduism in Nepal has been the architecture, culture, and the caste system. Although the caste system is not as prominent in modern day Nepal and marriage between caste systems has become increasing common, it has definitely been prominent in Nepal's history. Although the caste system is not as intense and divisive as it is in India, the existence of the caste system and the stigma it attaches onto the people can be clearly seen throughout Nepal's history. In terms of art, culture, and celebrations, festivals are prime examples of Hindu influences of Nepal. Around festival time, festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, and many more are a time where the country comes together and everyone celebrates together. While most of the festivals and celebrations stem from Hindu traditions, there are still a mix from other religions that the country in general celebrates as a whole.
Pashupatinath Temple
Mangal Bazaar
Art
Religion
Architecture
http://countrystudies.us/nepal/33.htm
Replies
Abhishek, your “Cultural Post 2” brought up some interesting points of discussion. One of the things that interests me most are the differences between religious Hindu practices in Nepal vs India. As a Muslim, I’ve found there to be more consistency in our practices across the globe whereas you mentioned just how different Hinduism in Nepal and India can be. Why do you think this is so? Also, in today’s climate, how is something like the caste system still upheld? Are there any social initiatives to eventually get rid of such an inherently discriminatory system?
Abhishek, I never knew that Nepal had a predominantly Hindu population. It is truly amazing that people of Nepal can respect the religion of others while also incorporating different religious practices together. There are many people across the globe unwilling to respect the religions of others while weaponizing their own religion (immediately, I think of the fundamentalist Christians in the United States who villainize any religion outside of their specific, cult-like brand of Christianity).
Abhishek , thank you for highlighting this important aspect of Nepali culture. You did a phenomenal job! Growing up in Nepal, I grew up pretty shielded from religious violence and friction all around the world. So, it was a huge shock growing up and seeing religious violence literally in our neighboring countries, which we share open borders with. I have often seen in Nepali news where Hindu temples donate land to Muslims to build mosques, as land is so expensive and Hindu temples have the advantage of being the “majority” and hence have access to more financial resources. As a result, if you go to Nepal today, you will see that most mosques will be found near Hindu temples or even within the same vicinity. In a time where Muslims face so much discrimination and scrutiny for their religion, Nepal’s religious tolerance should be a lesson for the global community.
Hey Abhishek! Thank you for sharing your post on Nepal. I find it completely fascinating that two religions were able to live in such proximity with one another, but without ever having a religious war. I think in our past, humans as a whole, religion has been a major factor that has to lead to conflict and discrimination. However, in Nepal that does not seem to be the case, and in fact, it seems as though those who practice Hinduism and Buddhism can see some value in each other's religion. Although I do not believe anyone has to believe in one thing, it is the respectable and right thing to think about other cultural/religious values and respect them, so long as they do not promote pain or discrimination.