treasures of nepal

Culturaltreasures of nepalwith special focus on Kathmandu Valley

Demon dancers, Indra JatraThe information contained in this book has been outsourcedfrom an expert writer while every effort has been made toensure accuracy and reliability.However, in case of lapses and discrepancies, revisionsand updates would be subsequently carried out in theforthcoming issues.2009 Edition© NTBCopy Right Images: Thomas KellyGyanin Rai (Page 43 top left)

HISTORY &CULtUrE

EthNic GroUPs &CoNcENtrAtioN

Potters square, BhaktapurThe Newars are well-known for their high levelof craftsmanship, learning and trade. Theyhave their own language, script and literature,and take pride in a legacy of culturaltraditions dating back to ancient times. TheNewars have pioneered what we can call anurbanised culture. It is the rich Newar culturethat has given Kathmandu its identity asthe cultural capital of the country. While theNewars as original dwellers of the valley havecontributed abundantly to the creation anddevelopment of Nepalese culture, differentcommunities and ethnic groups from the highHimalayas down to the southern Terai haveadded equally in enriching it.

Traditionally, the Brahmins perform religiousrites and rituals in the society and they arescattered throughout the country. Unlike theBrahmins, the Chhetris and Thakuris have beentraditionally portrayed as the warrior classand political administrators. By virtue of theirpredominant status and position in the country’spower hierarchy, they once owned large tracts ofland. Their language Nepali is the lingua francaof the country.Numerous ethnic groups inhabit the mid-hillsof the country. We find the Magars and Gurungsin the west, Tamangs and Newars in the centralmid-hills, and Rais, Sunuwars and Limbus in theeast of the country. These ethnic groups, exceptfor the Newars, are known as the martial (fighter)race. These ethnic groups comprise the elitefighting force in the country’s armed forces. Nowonder, the Nepalese youths serving in the BritishPaddy plantation

and Indian armies are mostly sourced from theseethnic groups. They also engage in farming.In the Himalayan region far north live theSherpa, Dolpo-pa, Baragaonli, Manangi and Lopaethnic groups. Among them, the Sherpas haveearned for themselves a reputation in the worldas skilled mountaineers at high altitude. Thelargest Sherpa settlement lies in Solu Khumbuat the foothills of Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest).These ethnic groups of the Himalayan north earntheir living working as porters and guides formountaineering expeditions, as farmers and asyak and sheep herders. They share linguistic andcultural affinity with the Tibetans in the north.They are also generally referred to as ‘Bhote’.The Terai plains in the south bordering India havedense settlements of the indigenous Tharus, Darais,Khumals, Danuwars, Dhimals, Rajbamsis, Sattarsand Majhis. Most of them have their own dialect.The Tharus are the indigenous inhabitants ofthe Terai and are spread all over the region fromeast to west. Majority of the people dwelling ineastern and mid-Terai speak Maithili and Bhojpuri,while Avadhi is widely spoken in western Terai.Due to the proximity and easy access, they sharecultural affinity and matrimonial relations with theneighbouring states of India.

Religions, Customsand Religious SymbolsHinduism is the main religion ofthe Nepalese people. The trinityof Hinduism - Brahma, Vishnuand Shiva - and the pantheonof numerous other Hindu godsand goddesses are devotedlyworshipped in Nepal.Nepal is a secular country. However, Hinduism is the mainreligion of the Nepalese people. The trinity of Hinduism -Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - and the pantheon of numerous otherHindu gods and goddesses are devotedly worshipped in Nepal.The female consorts of these gods are equally venerated hereas the manifestation of ‘Shakti’ (power or cosmic energy). Thegoddesses are worshipped in different forms, such as Nav Durgas(nine Durgas), Asta Matrikas (eight mother goddesses) and SaptaMatrikas (seven mother goddesses).Buddhism is an equally important religion in Nepal.Mahayana Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism - acombination of Hindu and Buddhist religious faithsinfluenced by Tantric cult - have been followed particularlyin the Kathmandu Valley since medieval times. In the highHimalayan region, Tibetan Buddhism, or Lamaism, and otherforms of Nature worship are also practised by the people.Buddha Purnima, Boudha NathSiddhartha Gautama, later known to the world as Lord Buddha,was born in Lumbini in mid-southwestern Nepal in 6th centuryB.C. There are more than two dozen sites around this area whichare closely related to the life of the Buddha and Buddhism.In the course of history, Buddhism as a religion spread andbecame popular in the high mountain regions, mid-hills and inthe Kathmandu Valley. Buddhism has profoundly influenced theNepalese way of life, culture, arts and architecture.CustomsThe Nepalese way of life is regulated by religion through theperformance of various rites and rituals, seeking God’s grace forthe well-being of the family, prosperity and mokshya (salvation)for the self. Religious custom guides every step of a Nepalesefrom birth to death and beyond. Every important event in the lifeof a person from cradle to pyre is marked by performing certainreligious rites and functions. These rituals may generally differfrom community to community. A new-born child undergoesChhaithi Nwaran, the naming ceremony (6th day of birth), andAnnaprasan, the rice-feeding ceremony (5th or 6th month of13

irth depending on whether the baby is a girl orboy). Then we have the ‘coming of age’ ceremony(gufa rakhney for Newar girls at pre-puberty stage orgifting of Guneu-cholo - a set of adult female dresses.For the boys, there is the Bratabandha or Upanayanaceremony, performed before he reaches teenage whenhis head is shaved and given the ceremonial loin-clothand sacred thread to wear. Thereafter, obviously, themost important event is marriage, which contains veryelaborate rituals that go on for more than a day. Onthe death of a person, there are very solemn rites tobe performed by the family.Religious SymbolsNepalese art is highly influenced by symbolism. Theuse and development of symbols in Nepalese artemerged during the medieval period when Vajrayanaand Tantricism flourished in the valley. Symbols havedeep rooted meaning. Above the hemispherical whitedome of the Swayambhu Maha Chaitya, on each of thefour sides of the square, facing the four directions, area pair of half-closed gentle eyes and a nose depictedas a question mark. Learned scholars have interpretedthe semi-closed eyes as the all-seeing eyes of theBuddha looking in all the four directions so that noone can hide any wrong doing from Him. And the nosein the form of a question mark symbolises Dharma,or Virtue, as the one path which leads all people toSukhaavati, or the Ocean of Happiness.Both Hinduism and Buddhism take recourse tosymbolic animals and birds to represent their deities.For example, the Garuda (mythical bird) representsLord Vishnu while the rat is the carrier (baahan) ofLord Ganesh. Erotic carvings portraying the male andfemale in various sexual postures are a common sightin a number of Hindu temples and Buddhist vihars, ormonasteries. Such erotic display in the temples andmonasteries is very intriguing, but it is symbolic andcarries much meaning, which only those knowledgeablein Tantricism can truthfully interpret. The Hindu godsand goddesses are known by their respective attributes,or divine weapons - again symbols with deep spiritualmeaning. Among the Hindu trinity, Brahma the Creatorhas four heads looking in four directions to show thathe sees in all directions, and hence is all-knowing. Hecarries a kalash - a water vessel - in one hand, which isa symbol of the Earth. The other trinity, Vishnu, holdsa conch, a discus, a mace and a lotus in his four hands.The conch is the symbol of the mind and cohesivetendency; the discus signifies primeval knowledgeand the notion of individual existence; the mace isthe sign of causal power of illusion from which theuniverse arises and the tendency towards dispersionand liberation; while the lotus is the symbol of the fiveelements denoting the origin of existence. The thirdtrinity, Shiva, or Maheshwar or Mahadev, has threegleaming eyes representing the sun, moon and fire.These three sources of light illuminate the earth, spaceand sky. It is with these three eyes that Shiva sees thepast, present and future.Similarly, Mahayana Buddhism has numerous symbols.The Vajra, or thunderbolt, symbolises the inseparableunity of wisdom and skillful means. It destroys allkinds of ignorance and is itself indestructible. Swastika,14

or fylfot, a kind of mystical cross, is an ancientauspicious symbol common to the Hindu, Buddhistand Jain religions. It is a symbol of good fortune. InBuddhism, it is regarded as one of the 65 divine marks(lakshan) of a great-soul (mahapurusha). The swastikasymbol is found on the imprint of the Buddha’s foot.It also appears on the chest or lotus throne of someBuddha images. Hindus and Buddhists alike believeand have great faith in the eight auspicious symbols:they are the (a) Srivatsa, or endless knot or chain,(b) Dhwaja, or the victory banner, (c) Kalash, or thevase containing the nectar of immortality, (d) Chamar,or fan which drives away diseases, (e) Matsya, or apair of golden fish, symbolising the unity of wisdomand compassion, (f) Chhatra, or the precious parasolthat symbolises royalty and which protects onefrom evil influences, (g) Sankha, or conch, thatsymbolises awareness and (h) Padma, or the lotus,that symbolises purity of the body. It is believed thatif the Sankha (conch) is blown with skill, the vibrantresonance can drive away evil spirits and destroyharmful germs and microbes.There are many spiritual symbols in Nepalese cultureused in different rites and rituals. Shree Yantrais one such very popular symbol. The Yantra is amystical, systematic, geometrical (triangular) diagramdepicting, in a synthetic form, the basic energies ofthe natural world which are represented by the deities.It represents the Universal Goddess. It symbolisesthe union of Shiva with Shakti (or Parvati). It is themain Yantra of Tulaja Bhavani and the Living GoddessKumari. Each deity has its own Yantra (design) inwhich it dwells during the ritual use of the Yantra.Yantras are frequently used by Saktas. Shatakon, orthe six-pointed star, is composed of two trianglesinverted and juxtaposed against one another. Thetriangle is an important yantra of manifold meanings.An upward-pointing triangle symbolises Agni, orfire, and the linga, or phallus, hence, also the maleprinciple of the cosmos, as well as Shiva and Shaivism.A downward-pointing triangle symbolises the yoni, orvagina, and the female principle of the cosmos, hencealso Shakti, (also Vishnu in the female form as Mohini)and Vaishnavism. Therefore, it also symbolises thesynchronisation between Shaivism and Vaishnavism.In Buddhism, a triangle pointing upwards symbolisesthe Tri-ratna, or three jewels - Buddha, Dharmaand Sangha. In Nepal, Shatakon also representsSaraswati, the goddess of learning. Every Buddhistshrine, temple, stupa and monument has Mani prayerwheels. On the prayer wheels, ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’,the mantra of Chenrezig, the Protector, is embossed,etched or painted on the outside. A Mani wheel, or aprayer wheel, can be big or small, free standing or ina row with many others along the walls. Its literarymeaning is ‘Hail to the Jewel (or Buddha) in theLotus’. There are numerous other symbols in Nepaleseart. One of the most common is the tika, or red mark,on the forehead as a symbol of good luck, devotionto the deities and blessing of the seniors and elderlypersons. It has special meaning to the womenfolk. Forthem, it signifies a happy married life. Hindu widowsrefrain from putting on a red tika, wearing red banglesand putting on red saris.15

HOLY sitEs &PiLgriMAgE

Holy Sites andPilgrimage DestinationsTo the Hindus, the most famousand most venerated is the templeof Lord Pashupatinath, situatedon the banks of the holy riverBagmati in Kathmandu. It isamong the most revered shrinesfor Hindus all over the world.Pashupati Temple by nightPashupatinath TempleNepal has numerous pilgrimage sites, sacred to bothHindus and Buddhists. To the Hindus, the mostfamous and most venerated is the temple of LordPashupatinath, situated on the banks of the holy riverBagmati in Kathmandu. It is among the most reveredshrines for Hindus all over the world. The main temple,which stands in the middle of a courtyard, is twotiered,built upon a square plinth, and is 23.6 metreshigh. The four large gates of the temple are silver andgilt-plated and richly carved with images of deities.The two copper roofs are supported by numerous strutsadorned with beautifully carved images of variousHindu gods and goddesses. The sacro sanctum, orthe main idol of “Mukhalingam”, is one metre highand has faces carved in four directions. The originaltemple is said to have been built at the beginning ofthe Christian era. It is said to have undergone severalreconstructions over the ages to what stands today.17

Changu Narayan TempleThe site of the Changu Narayan is revered assacred location dating back to the Lichchhaviperiod and is believed to be one of the valley’searliest settlement site. It is situated on asmall hillock northwest of Bhaktapur. Reveredby both Hindus and Buddhists, Changu Narayanhas been among the most venerated sites forworshippers of Lord Vishnu since early times,and hence it is a very important pilgrimagesite for the Vaishnavas. The main pagoda- styletemple is located at the centre of a largecourtyard, which is surrounded by rest housesknown as Chaughera Sattal. In addition to themain two-storey temple, the Changu Narayanmonument zone includes several smaller shrines,including the temple of Chhinna Mastaa, theheadless goddess. The site is renowned for themasterpieces in stone and metal sculpture datingback to different periods of history. Examplesof such masterpieces in stone sculptures arethe Vishwarup of Lord Vishnu circa 8th century,Vishnu Vikranta or Lord Vishnu’s form circa 8thcentury, and the fearful figure of NarasimhaAvatar, or half lion-half human figure of LordVishnu, which dates back to the 9th century.Changunarayan Temple

Swayambhu Maha ChaityaKathmandu Valley has also some very importantand highly venerated Buddhist sites. As oneenters the valley, the first sight to catch thevisitor’s eye is the hemispherical white dome(stupa) of the Swayambhu Maha Chaitya perchedmajestically atop a hill on the western fringeof the Kathmandu Valley. The stupa symbolisesthe body of the Buddha, which is nothing otherthan the cosmos itself. The Swayambhu MahaChaitya with the semi-closed eyes of the Buddhaoverlooking the valley from all four directionsis the most prominent monument and landmarkof the valley. The historical origins of this greatstupa are obscure, but it is believed to havebeen built during the Lichchhavi period. Themain stupa is a huge white dome in the formof a flattened hemisphere. Around the circularbase - the garva (womb) - are installed the fivecelestial Buddhas with their respective femalecounterparts. In the vicinity are numerousmonuments. These include the twin Shikharastyletemples of Pratappur and Anantapur builtby King Pratap Malla; Basupur, with the image ofGoddess Basundhara, the bestower of prosperity;Vayupur, the god of wind; and the artistic goldentemple of the Goddess Ajima or Harati, theprotector of children.The Swayambhu Maha Chaitya is a veritabletreasure house of valuable artefacts of bronzeand stone images and miniature chaityas. On thewestern side of the stupa in front of the Haratitemple, there is a stone pillar on top of whichare some very striking bronze statues. On theeastern side, atop a Mandala, there is a massiveVajra, or thunderbolt. This golden Vajra, knownas dorje in Tibetan, is the symbol of VajrayanaBuddhism. In the vicinity of the great stupathere are Tibetan, Bhutanese and Nepalesevihars and gumbas, as well as a museum wherenumerous religious manuscripts and bronzeand stone images of both Buddhist and Hindudeities are on display. Indeed, the entire site is aunique open-air museum, unparalleled elsewherein the world.Boudhanath StupaThe great Stupa of Boudhanath is the principalcentre of Tibetan Buddhist worship in theKathmandu Valley. It has long been a majordestination for pilgrims from the Himalayas,Tibet and southeast and east Asia. It is oneof the largest and most magnificent Buddhistmonuments in the world. Lichchhavi KingManadeva I (reign 464-505 A.D.) is credited tohave built this great stupa.LumbiniThere cannot be a more revered pilgrimagesite for Buddhists than Lumbini, the birthplace of Shakya Muni Buddha. Buddha, theprince of peace and non-violence, was bornat Lumbini in 623 B.C. For centuries, pilgrimstravelling from afar revered the spot at theLumbini garden where Gautama Buddha wasborn, building stupas, monasteries and othertypes of monuments. The most notable andimportant is the stone pillar erected by EmperorAshoka Maurya in the 3rd century B.C., whichauthenticates the exact spot where Queen MayaDevi gave birth to the blessed one. Today, thesite is being developed as a major internationalpilgrimage destination with the assistance of20

nations with Buddhist populations. Lumbinihas been listed in the World Heritage Site byUNESCO.Janaki TempleTo the Hindus, Janakpur, the birthplace of Janakior Sita, the consort of Rama, is an importantreligious pilgrimage site. In ancient times,Janakpur was the capital city of the Kingdomof Mithila and the centre of Maithili culture.The magnificent Janaki Mandir was built bythe Queen of Tikamgarh (India), MaharaniBrishabhanu Kunwari Devi in 1811 A.D. as amark of devotion to Janaki (Sita). The marriageanniversary of Lord Rama and Sita is solemnisedin Janakpur every year on Vivah Panchami daywhich falls in December. This is one of thebiggest festivals of this region attended byhundreds and thousands of devotees from Nepaland India. The birthday of Sita, known as SitaJayanti, is also celebrated in a grand mannerevery year in the month of April-May. For theJanakpurites, Sita is their ‘daughter’. NearJanakpur town is a place known as DhanushaDham, which is connected with the great Hinduepic Ramayana. According to the epic, one of thethree pieces of the Great Bow that Lord Ramabroke to win Sita’s hand in marriage fell on thissite - in present day Dhanusha Dham.MuktinathMuktinath is a very popular pilgrimage sitein Nepal. Situated at an altitude of 13,000feet above sea level in Mustang district, thesite is also known among the Hindus as MuktiChhetra, or the ‘abode of salvation’. There is asmall pagoda-style temple of Lord Vishnu whichis worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists.The Buddhists worship the deity as one of theBodhisattvas. There are 108 sacred water spoutsflowing with icy cold water where devotees takea quick bath. Nearby is the temple of Jwala Mai,or the Goddess of Flame, with the phenomenalunderground blue flame.Other Pilgrimage SitesOther prominent pilgrimage sites are the BalmikiAshram in Chitwan district where accordingto the epic Ramayana, a pregnant Sita, afterbeing banished by Lord Rama, took refuge andgave birth to her two sons, Lava and Kush.Baraha Kshetra, situated near Dharan in eastNepal, is said to be the place where Lord Vishnuin the incarnation of Barah (boar) foughtand annihilated the demon Hiranakshya andsaved the Earth. Devghat, near Narayanghat inChitwan district, stands at the holy confluenceof three mighty rivers, Trisuli, Gandaki and Seti.Swarga Dwari, which literally means ‘Gatewayto Heaven’, situated in Pyuthan district, isthe place from where the Pandavas of theMahabharata proceeded to Heaven. Gosainkund,the icy cold lake situated at an altitude of14,000 feet in Rasuwa district, is for the Hindusthe sacred watery place where Lord Shiva restedto soothe himself after having consumed thefiery Kalkoot poison that emanated from theSamudra Manthan (churning of the celestialocean). Gadhi Mai is the shrine located in thewoods in Bara district, and is renowned for themela (fair) where the largest animal sacrifice inthe region takes place over a period of a month.Other prominent pilgrimage sites are HalesiMahadev in Khotang, Mai Pokhari in Ilam andPathibhara Devi in Taplejung to name a few.21

History, Myths& LEgENDs

History, Mythsand LegendsThere are Hindu and Buddhistlegends behind the origin of theKathmandu Valley. According tothe former, for long this valleywas a huge pristine lake. LordKrishna of the Mahabharata agecame here and sliced the lowestpart of the southern hills with hisdivine discus (Sudarshan Chakra)allowing the water to flow out,making the valley possible forhuman settlement.Mystical Mythical Swayambhu ChaityaNepal is steeped in numerous legends, myths andfolklore that are entwined with different facets ofNepalese life. Every temple, shrine or sacred placethroughout the country has some myth or legend totell us. No wonder, Nepal is called the ‘Land of theGods’.Kathmandu ValleyThe Buddhist version gives credit for the origin ofthe valley to Sage Manjushri who came from China toworship at Swayambhu. He struck a deep cleft in thesouthern hills with his divine scimitar and drainedoff the water, making the valley habitable for humansettlement. As if to corroborate the legend, the logo ofKathmandu Metropolitan City depicts the divine swordof Sage Manjushri.There are Hindu and Buddhist legends behind theorigin of the Kathmandu Valley. According to theformer, for long this valley was a huge pristine lake.Lord Krishna of the Mahabharata age came here andsliced the lowest part of the southern hills with hisdivine discus (Sudarshan Chakra) allowing the waterto flow out, making the valley possible for humansettlement. The cowherds (Gopals) who accompaniedhim settled here and were the first inhabitants of thevalley.23

Swayambhu Maha ChaityaOn the origin of Swayambhu Maha Chaitya,popular legend narrates how the valley wasonce a huge lake - a lake of idyllic beautysurrounded by green pristine forests. This lakewas known as Naag Hrad, or the Abode of theSerpent God. In this lake, Bipasvi Buddha cameto take a holy dip. He then cast some lotusseeds into the lake, which eventually bloomedinto a thousand-petal lotus over whichappeared a brilliant radiant flame, the beacon(Jyoti) that self-originated, which is theSwayambhu Jyoti-rupa (the beacon). The greateternal beacon was enshrined in this chaityaby King Prachand Deva of Gauda, India withthe sacred objective of preserving its religioussanctity against its possible destruction bynon-believers in the Kali Yug (the Eon of Evil).Swayambhu Chaitya

Boudhanath StupaThe legend behind the great Stupa ofBoudhanath has it that it was built by a poultryfarmer - a woman - Shamvara. After receivingpermission from the king to build a stupa,Shamvara began its construction with the helpof her four sons, an elephant and a donkey.Foundations were laid, and walls were built upto the third level. It was at this time that thepeople of the valley resented the idea of a poorpoultry farmer - and a woman at that - buildingsuch a stupa and shaming them by her illustriouswork.They questioned, if a poor woman could buildsuch a stupa, then what is to be expected fromthe king, the nobles and the wealthy. Jealousof the woman, they petitioned the king to haltthe construction work. But the king was not tooblige them. He told them that the poor poultrywoman-farmer had gone through great hardshipsto build this stupa, which he considered amarvel. As he had already given her permissionto build the stupa, he being the king, would nottake back his word. The construction work thuscontinued for four years, and the pinnacle wasnearing complete.But at this point, the poor woman, sensing thather end was nearing, called her four sons andservant and told them to complete this greatstupa. She said, “My divine project is the placeof adulation for both earthly and superhumanbeings. Place the imperishable remains ofthe Tathagatas (mortal Buddhas) within thisstupa and consecrate it with great honour andreverence. I desire that my wish be fulfilled bywhich the great purpose of all the Buddhas ofthe past, present and future will be realised.And you, my sons, will also fulfill the purposeof this life and the next by obeying my wishes.”With these words, the woman died and attainedBuddhahood (salvation). Her sons completed theconstruction of the great stupa, which is nowthe famous Boudhanath.A Hindu legend on its origin states that thegreat stupa was built by King Manadeva I in 5thcentury A.D. to absolve himself from the sin ofpatricide.Nyatapola and BhairavTemple, BhaktapurAccording to popular legend, King BhupatindraMalla built a three-storeyed temple of Bhairav toprotect the city of Bhaktapur from evil spirits.But Bhairav, because of his boisterous nature,proved troublesome, and the king was advisedby his astrologers that only the installation ofa Tantric goddess who was more powerful thanBhairav could curb his unruly behaviour. The kingthen built the five-storeyed temple and installedtherein the most powerful goddess, Siddhi Laxmi,to subdue Bhairav. This magnificent temple laterbecame famous as the Nyatapola (meaning fivestoreyedin the local dialect), and is today thelandmark of Bhaktapur city.Kumari, the Living GoddessThe myths and legends surrounding the Kumari,the Living Goddess of Kathmandu, is fascinating.Historical records show that the worship ofKumari as a living goddess has been prevalentsince at least the 10th century. But popularfolklore relating to the Kumari as the incarnation26

of Taleju Bhavani, the patron deity of theroyals, and the king conversing and playing dicewith her are linked to certain kings who ruledKathmandu, like Trailokya Malla (16th century)and the last Malla ruler of Kathmandu, JayaPrakash Malla (18th century). According to thelegend, it so happened that one night whileplaying dice with Goddess Taleju, or Kumari, theking was aroused by her celestial beauty and wasovercome with lust. The Kumari, a goddess as shewas, at once visualised the amorous thoughts inthe king’s mind. Showing her utter displeasure,she declared that she would henceforth nevercome to him and disappeared. The king wasfilled with profound remorse and begged forforgiveness. The Goddess later relented and saidthat she would enter the body of a virgin girl, aKumari, which the king was to worship.Another version of the legend has it that theking and Kumari used to play dice every night oncondition that no mortal would see them doingso. Accordingly, the king had strictly instructedthe queen and his daughter not to enter orpeek into the certain room while he was inside.But curiosity got the better of the women, andthey peeped inside. The angry Goddess thendisappeared. The king repented and prayed forthe Goddess’ forgiveness. Goddess Kumari thencame in his dream and told the king that shewould henceforth not come in person. Insteadthe king was to worship a Shakya virgin girl whowould possess her divine power. Since then, aShakya virgin girl is worshipped as the Kumari,and once a year during the month of September,the Living Goddess is taken around the oldquarters of Kathmandu in her chariot during theIndra Jatra festival.Bisket JatraBisket Jatra is a gala festival held annually inBhaktapur on Nepalese New Year’s Day (BikramSambat). There is a popular folklore about theorigin of this festival. It relates to the timeof the reign of Lichchhavi King Shiva Deva. ATantrik by the name of Shekhar Acharya wassaid to possess the extraordinary power oftransforming himself into animals and reptiles.Once, his over-curious wife, Nararupa, wantedto see him change into a serpent. After muchpestering by the wife, he finally gave in to herdemand. But before doing so, he warned her notto be scared by what she was likely to see andto throw some grains of rice on him that wouldreturn him to his human form. He then changedhimself into a huge python. But when Nararupasaw the gigantic serpent, she was terrified. Shelost her nerve, and instead of throwing the riceat her husband-in-serpent form, she put the ricein her own mouth, which turned her also into apython.It so happened that in the whole kingdom, noneother than the king knew the mantra (chantingof sacred words) that could resuscitate themfrom the serpent to human form. Therefore,expecting to draw the attention of the king tohelp them return to human form, the husbandand wife pythons would stand and gaze towardsthe palace every day in the hope that the kingwould notice and resuscitate them to humanform. Time went by, but to no avail. Finally, thefrustrated python couple committed suicide at aplace called Chuping Ghat (a river bank).This tragic end of Shekhar Acharya and his wifebrought famine to the country. Not knowing27

what had come to pass, the alarmed kingsummoned the Tantrik Shekhar Acharya tocourt for advice to help quell the famine,but he was nowhere to be found. Ultimately,it was discovered that the Tantrik and hiswife had committed suicide in the formof serpents. The king and the people werehighly dismayed. Since then, every year, inmemory of the Tantrik and his wife, two longcloth banners, representing and symbolising theserpent couple, are hung from a wooden pole,called the lingo, to commemorate their tragicdeath.

Bisket Jatra

FEstiVALs& cELEBrAtioNs

Festivals andCelebrationsNepalese celebrate festivals withgreat enthusiasm and élan. It issaid that hardly a day passes inNepal without a festival beingcelebrated somewhere.Dashain Festival swingThe official calendar adopted by the Nepalese is theBikram Sambat (B.S.). The Bikram Sambat New Yearbegins with the month of Baisakh (mid-April). Forall religious festivals and auspicious personal eventsand rituals, Nepalese make use of the lunar calendar.Religion plays a very vital role in all festivals in Nepal,whether Hindu or Buddhist. One can see a blend ofthese two religions in most of the Nepalese festivals.Nepalese celebrate festivals with great enthusiasmand élan. It is said that hardly a day passes in Nepalwithout a festival being celebrated somewhere.Certain festivals are celebrated nationwide, whileothers are of a local nature, observed within a certainregion or community. Based on this, Nepalese festivalscan be broadly classified into three categories: thosethat are celebrated nationwide, regionally or locally,and by the community. Major festivals like BadaDasain, or Durga Puja, Tihar, or Laxmi Puja, BuddhaJayanti, or the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, ShivaRatri, or the birthday of Lord Shiva, Janai Purnima,Ram Navami and Krishna Janmasthami are celebratedthroughout the country.Some prominent festivals that are celebrated withgreat fanfare are the Indra Jatra of Kathmandu,31

Rato Machhindranath Rath Yatra of Patan, Bisketand Bhairav Rath Yatra of Bhaktapur, GhodaJatra of Kathmandu, Maghe Sankranti, or thefirst day of the month of Magh, ChandeshwariJatra of Banepa, Palanchowk Bhagwati Jatra ofPalanchowk, Bhagwati Jatra of Palpa, GosainKunda Mela at Gosain Kunda in Rasuwa districtand Haleshi Mahadev Mela of Khotang.Similarly, other noteworthy local festivals arethe Gatha-Muga, or Ghanta Karna, in Kathmandu,chariot pulling festival of the Kumari inKathmandu, Bajra Barahi Jatra of Tistung in

Makwanpur, Janaki Vivaha, or Vivaha Panchami,in Dhanusha, Triveni Mela at Udayapur, BarahaChhetra Mela in Sunsari, Mai-Pokhari Mela inIlam, Bhimsen Jatra in Dolakha and IndreshwarMela in Panauti. Festivals such as Chhath, Faguand Holi (festival of colours) are celebratedregionally.Nepalese festivals are generally woven aroundthe monsoon-driven agricultural cycle, andwith rice being the most important staplecrop, many of these festivities are observedafter the plantation and harvesting of paddy.Every festival involves the worshipping of theconcerned deities and then sitting for a feastthereafter. A legend or folklore is behind everyfestival in Nepal.Indra Jatra

UNESCOHEritAgE SitEs

UNESCOHeritage SitesThe Kathmandu Valley is a treasuretrove of Nepalese culture, and animportant side of that culture isits architectural heritage which isrepresented in the numerous monumentsincluded and preserved within the sevenmonument zones in the KathmanduValley World Heritage Site.NyatapolaNepal’s rich mosaic of cultural heritages could belikened to a precious diamond having numerousfacets. The Kathmandu Valley is a treasure trove ofNepalese culture, and an important side of that cultureis its architectural heritage which is represented inthe numerous monuments included and preservedwithin the seven monument zones in the KathmanduValley World Heritage Site. The valley is replete withmarvelous creations in various shapes and forms ofart and architecture, extending even to a small stoneor a bronze statue. The fine woodcarvings in thetemples and houses are well-known throughout theworld. The exquisite temples, monasteries, stupas orChaityas, shrines, palaces, monuments and every otherarchitectural wonder of the valley are glorious culturaltreasures of Nepal as well as a heritage of the whole ofmankind. Nepalese architectural heritage is representedin the unique design of built structures like the pagodaand Shikhara-style temples, shrines, monasteries,palaces, individual homes, stupas or Chaityas (Buddhisthemispherical structures that do not contain the mortalremains of Buddhas or other holy persons), Sattals(wayside rest house), Patis (public rest house), Pauvas(one or two-storey public rest house), Dhunge Dharasor stone waterspouts, Dabalis or open platforms,Ghats or river banks, ponds, pillar statues, minarets ortowers, forts and so on.35

UNESCO has included seven monument sites of theKathmandu Valley in the World Cultural Heritage list. Ofthe seven sites, three are centred around the ancientmedieval palaces of the valley, namely the HanumanDhoka Durbar (palace) in Kathmandu, Patan Durbar inPatan (Lalitpur) and Bhaktapur Durbar in Bhaktapur.These palace complexes were the residences of theMalla kings. The other world heritage sites are theSwayambhu Maha Chaitya, Boudhanath Stupa, thetemple complex of Lord Pashupatinath in Kathmanduand the Changu Narayan Temple in Bhaktapur.Kathmandu Durbar Square

Bhaktapur Durbar SquareAmong the three Durbar Squares, the BhaktapurDurbar Square is by far the most elegant with itslarge open space facing south. The Golden Gateand the Palace of 55 Carved Windows have addedsplendour to this palace square which consists ofbuildings dating from the 13th century to the 18thcentury. Bhaktapur’s landmark is the world famousfive-tiered Nyatapola, or five-storeyed temple,built in 1702 at Taumadhi Square. Bhaktapur is aliving museum of arts and architecture. Each andevery piece of art speaks of the city’s history. Themonuments and sculptures reflect centuries-oldcraftsmanship. The city has suffered much fromearthquakes, especially those of 1808, 1833and 1934. These earthquakes caused extensivedamage to its ancient buildings. Yet, despitethe destruction, the external appearance ofthe city does not seem to have changed much.Temples and monuments have been restored andpreserved. Dilapidated buildings have been rebuiltor renovated in their original form. So the basicstructure of the town is intact.

Dattatreya Temple

In the 1970s, the pioneering BhaktapurDevelopment Project, with financial andtechnical assistance from the Germangovernment, restored considerable portions ofthe city’s lost heritage and improved its physicalinfrastructure.The main attraction of the Bhaktapur DurbarSquare is the famous Golden Gate or SwarnaDwar, built by King Ranjit Malla in 1753. Britishhistorian Perceval Landon praised it as ‘themost exquisitely designed and finished pieceof gilded metalwork in all Asia’. The gate is themain entrance to the palace. The Palace of 55Windows, built by King Yaksha Malla in 1427 andrenovated by King Bhupatindra Malla, is famousfor its intricately carved wood works. There aremany courtyards inside the palace, but theyare closed to the public. The visitor has to besatisfied with the diversity of monuments aroundthe palace complex.Upon entering the gate to the BhaktapurDurbar Square, there are two temples to theright. One is the two-storeyed Krishna Temple,with roof struts depicting the 10 incarnationsof Lord Vishnu. The second is a terracottaShikhara temple dedicated to Goddess Durgaor Bhagawati. The life-size statue of KingBhupatindra Malla with folded palms atop astone pillar in front of the National Art Galleryis another remarkable piece of sculpture. Thelast Malla ruler of Bhaktapur, King Ranjit Malla,erected this statue in 1753 as a tribute toBhupatindra Malla, who enriched the culturalheritage of Bhaktapur. The Big Bell, installedhere by King Ranjit Malla in 1737, is used whileworshipping Goddess Tulaja Bhavani. Behindthis, there is a beautiful stone Shikhara-styletemple with nine pinnacles dedicated to GoddessBatsala built in 1672 by King Jagat PrakashMalla. Next to the Batsala temple is the twostoreyedpagoda-style temple of YaksheswaraMahadev built by King Yaksha Malla in the 15thcentury.Taumadhi Square that houses the NyatapolaTemple is one of the three main squares includedin the world heritage site of Bhaktapur. Thissquare is dominated by two of Bhaktapur’sgrandest temples. The Nyatapola, or fivestoreyedtemple of Goddess Siddhi Laxmi, thepatron deity of King Bhupatindra Malla, is byfar the most imposing. Its five-step base givesit a towering height, which makes it the tallesttemple in the country. This grand temple, amasterpiece of Nepalese architecture, was builtby King Bhupatindra Malla in 1702. The columnsaround the temple sanctum and door frame haveexquisite carvings. The impressive woodworkincludes 108 supporting roof struts, which depictthe diverse forms of the goddess Bhagawati, orMahismardini, and other associate deities. Inthe southeast corner of this courtyard standsa massive three-storeyed rectangular templeof Bhairav, also known as Kashi Bishwanath.The original temple is believed to have beenconstructed in 1001 during the reign of KingNirvaya Deva.Tachapal, or Dattatraya Square, is one of thethree main squares of Bhaktapur. The Dattatraya42

Temple stands in the east of the square. It wasbuilt by King Yaksha Malla and his son BiswaMalla in the 15th century. The god Dattatrayarepresents the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnuand Maheshwar or Shiva. Surrounding theDattatraya Square are several Hindu Maths ormonasteries, of which the most important isthe Pujari Math. The Pujari Math is especiallyknown for the rich 18th century woodcarvingsthat grace its doors and windows. Particularlywell-known is the famed intricately carved‘Peacock Window’ facing the lane on the eastside of the building. It is supposedly the finestspecimen of woodcarving. In fact, the ancientcity of Bhaktapur is home to some of the rarestand probably the finest examples of Nepalesewoodcarving art and architecture.LumbiniOutside the Kathmandu Valley, Lumbini, thebirthplace of Lord Buddha, has been enlistedin the World Cultural Heritage site. SiddharthaGautama, who later attained enlightenment asthe Buddha, was born in Lumbini in the springof 623 B.C. An inscription on a stone pillarerected by Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 249 B.C.authenticates that the Buddha was born at thisspot. Recent archaeological excavations havediscovered the “marker stone” at the basementof the Maya Devi Temple, believed to have beenlaid there by Emperor Ashoka to denote theexact sacred spot where the Buddha first puthis foot on earth. This has further enhanced theimportance and sanctity of the site. The stupasbuilt during different periods dating from 3rdcentury B.C. to 15th century A.D., the MayaDevi Temple and Pushkarni Pond where the babySiddhartha was given his first bath after birthare some ancient edifices of Lumbini.A Master Plan for the development of Lumbiniwas initiated in 1978 as per the design ofworld-renowned architect Professor Tange ofJapan. The Master Plan segregates the Lumbiniarea into four main components: the SacredGarden which includes the Maya Devi Templeand the Ashokan pillar; the monastic zone; thecultural centre; and the Lumbini village. Sincethe early 1980s, many countries with significantBuddhist populations have contributed inits infrastructural development. Monasteriesreflecting the architecture of the individualcountries have been constructed in the monasticzone. But much still remains to be done to givefinal shape to the Master Plan.As the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini isone of the holiest places of one of the world’sgreatest religions. It has remained a hallowedBuddhist pilgrimage spot since very early times.Lumbini has been designated as the “Fountain ofWorld Peace and the Holiest Pilgrimage Centre ofBuddhists and peace-loving people of the world”.The site remains a place of pilgrimage for bothBuddhists and Hindus alike from all over theworld.Besides the existing World Heritage sitesin Nepal, there are many other natural andhistorical monuments and sites in the countrywhich merit inclusion in the World Heritage list.43

Art &ArchitEctUrE

Art, Architecture,Sculpture and PaintingNepal’s ethnic diversity, religiousand cultural beliefs, festivities,gods and goddesses in their manymanifestations, demons, myths,legends, folklore and myriad spiritualand supernatural elements have beenthe subject of profound interest tovisitors. Its cultural mosaic is enrichedby folk art and artistic creations, whichare reflected in its music, musicalinstruments, paintings (thangkas),masks and curio items of culturalsignificance and numerous otherobjects d’art.Sculptor at work in PatanThe seven UNESCO monuments of the Kathmanduvalley comprising of three historical palaces knownas – Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Squareand Bhaktapur Durbar Square-- two Buddhist stupas-Syambhunath and Boudanath and two Hindu templesPashupatinath and Changu Narayan, were reveredas sacred for hundred of years and there has been aseries of contributions and renovations in the form ofconstructions of temples, stupas and palaces over thecenturies made by different rulers and Kings.The pagodas are multi-tiered monuments taperingtowards the top with intricate wood carving inthe forms of doors, pillars, windows and struts.These ubiquitous wooden historical structures aresupplemented by bronze works and stone sculpturestogether forming the squares and palaces with profuserepresentation of images of gods, goddesses, demons,beasts, mythical figures, kings and the ordinary humanbeings engaged in their day-to-day activities.The Lichchavi period is known as the classical periodof Nepalese history because it was during this periodthat art and architecture began to take shape.Trade and crafts flourished under them, and theybuilt magnificent temples, palaces and monuments.However, it was only under the later Malla periodand the early Shah period from the 14th to the18th centuries the valley’s fabulous cities with theirexquisite pagoda, shikhara and stupa architecture,ornate palaces and artistic temples came to take shapein the form that we see it today.45

The present day neo-classical buildings were alsobuilt only during the second half of the 19thcentury (Rana Regime) with Nepal’s first contactwith the western countries.Nepal’s ethnic diversity, religious and culturalbeliefs, festivities, gods and goddesses in their manymanifestations, demons, myths, legends, folkloreand myriad spiritual and supernatural elements havebeen the subject of profound interest to visitors. Itscultural mosaic is enriched by folk art and artisticcreations, which are reflected in its music, musicalinstruments, paintings (thangkas), masks and curioitems of cultural significance and numerous otherobjects d’art.Harmonious inter-relationship and tolerancebetween Hinduism and Buddhism and themutual respect and acceptance of each otherhave created a congenial environment for thedevelopment of art and culture. Early visitors tothe country described the valley as the abodeof the gods and goddesses where there weremore temples than houses and more gods andgoddesses than people. Writings by 7th centuryChinese travellers reported well-built townsand settlements with magnificent palaces andtemples. Its narrow streets with roofed brickhouses in a row on both sides, paved squares,open platforms or stages, stone water spoutsand a landscape punctuated by temples, stupas,monasteries and numerous other religious andcultural monuments added to its aestheticbeauty. An inventory prepared in 1975 statedthat more than 80 per cent of all historicalmonuments in the country were to be found inthe Kathmandu Valley. In the valley alone, therewere more than a thousand splendid monuments.This was what Brown Morton III, Chairman ofthe United States National Committee for theInternational Council of Monuments and Sites,had to say in 1979: “The Kathmandu Valley isperhaps the most beautiful place in the world.Hidden deep in the folds of the Himalayanmountains between India and Tibet, this exoticcentre of an exotic country is nearly a perfectsynthesis of natural and man-made beauty.”The natural splendour of the valley, its historyand cultural opulence have attracted visitors,pilgrims, traders and scholars who dared toventure into the mountains and inhospitableterrain in search of the elusive Shangri-la.What makes Kathmandu Valley unique is theamalgamation of its magnificent naturalenvironment with a living civilisation reflectedin its towns, monuments, festivities, highlystylised pageants, ritualistic customs, religioustraditions and vibrant culture.Thangka (Pauva) ArtThe art of painting in Nepal is as old as thecarvings on stone and metal, and it is variouslyexpressed in the murals, manuscripts, Gathas(wooden covers of manuscripts), and on clothand paper. As in other forms of Nepalese art,religion has played a dominant role in painting,too. Thangkas, also known as Pauvas, aretraditional paintings depicting religious themesand deities. It is prepared on a piece of finecotton or silk cloth which is coated with amixture of glue, chalk and indigo and finallyvarnished with the white of a duck’s egg mixedwith water. The Pauva paintings have generallybeen painted by traditional ethnic castes likethe Chitrakars, Shakyas, Vajracharyas and TibetanLamas.46

Mithila ArtThese days, Maithili art or painting is alsogaining popularity among the tourists. Basically,Maithili art is a folk painting dominated byreligious themes. Janakpur in central-southNepal is the centre of this school of art. Thepeople of Mithila, generally womenfolk, paint thewalls of their houses with pictures of differentflowers and objects of socio-religious themesin bright colours. The women of Mithila havecultivated this ceremonial art of drawing andpainting on the mud walls of their houses, thefloors of their thresholds and courtyards. Sita,the princess of Mithila and consort of Ramaof the epic Ramayana, has been the perennialsource of inspiration to the women of Mithila inthis ancient craft of painting. Today, they areexperimenting with their ancient art on paperas a form of prayer. The art of Mithila is heavilyinfluenced by Tantric cults as in the Pauvasand, therefore, their paintings are full of Tantricsymbols like the Mandala in Tibetan art.MuseumsNepal Museum, the first and pioneer museumof Nepal, opened to the general public onFebruary 12, 1939. Located at Chhauni on thewestern outskirts of Kathmandu, it later becamepopular as the National Museum. It has threesections - history, art gallery and Buddhist artgallery - housed in three separate buildings. Inthe art gallery, there are numerous sculpturesof historical and artistic importance in stone,bronze and wood. The earliest dated stone statueof King Jaya Verma, circa 185 A.D., is on displayhere. The National Numismatic Museum is housedon the top floor of the history section. TheNational Museum is open six days a week exceptTuesdays and public holidays.The historical old Malla palaces of the valleyhave also been converted into museums. TheHanuman Dhoka Palace houses the biographicalmuseums of the Shah Kings - Tribhuvan,Mahendra and Birendra. The Patan Museum, withits rich collection of Nepalese bronze sculptures,has been established in the residential palacecompound of the Keshav Narayan Chowk of PatanDurbar. This Patan Museum was restored to itsearlier glory with the technical and financialassistance of the Austrian government. It isconsidered to be one of the best museumsin south Asia. The National Art Gallery atBhaktapur was set up in the famous 55 WindowPalace of Bhaktapur Durbar in 1961. In thisgallery, thangka paintings, or traditionalNepalese paintings, dating from the 13th and14th centuries are preserved and on display.In Bhaktapur, we have two smaller museumsat Dattatraya Square. The Pujari Math Museumcontains woodcarvings while the Chikanfa MathMuseum has bronze metal artefacts and utensilsused for religious rites and household purposes.Other museums in the valley are the Museum ofNatural History and the Museum of SwayambhuBikas Mandal at Swayambhu. The latter holds acollection of Buddhist artefacts in stone. TheNepal National Ethnographic Museum housed inthe Tourism Service Centre building at BhrikutiMandap, Kathmandu displays life size dioramasdepicting the life and culture of different racesand ethnic communities of Nepal.Outside the Kathmandu Valley, there are regionalmuseums at Pokhara, Surkhet, Dhankuta andKapilvastu. Except for the one at Kapilvastu, theother museums are mainly ethnological museumsdepicting local culture. Among them, theprominent ones are the International MountainMuseum at Pokhara, the Tharu Cultural Museum47

at Thakurdwara in Bardiya National Park and TheMustang Eco-Museum at Jomsom in Mustang.These days, private collectors have also beenencouraged to stage exhibitions to display theircollections of different types of traditional artsand handicraft items.At Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, thereis the all important archaeological remains ofthe Maya Devi Temple, especially the alcoveremains which date from 3rd century B.C. Thearchaeological ruins of monasteries date from3rd century B.C to 5th century A.D. Numerousartefact items were discovered while excavatingthe Lumbini area, such as silver coins, child’stoy and a ram made of clay on wheels which wasprobably used during early period. The BuddhistInternational Research Library at Lumbini has arich collection of Buddhist texts.Nepal’s museums have rich collectionsof archaeological, historical and artisticimportance. Besides the archaeological objectsdating from the time of Lord Buddha unearthedat Lumbini, Tilaurakot and other places inwest Nepal, pre-historic archaeological objectsdiscovered in the Mustang caves belong to 8thcentury B.C. Stone statues, inscriptions, coinsand many other archaeological objects have beendiscovered in the Kathmandu Valley which datesfrom the 1st century. As Nepalese are icon (idol)worshipers, a vast treasure of cultural wealth inthe form of stone, wood and metal sculpturesand religious paintings remain in privatepossession with private collectors.Traditional HandicraftsNepalese handicrafts have been popular sincelong. The mention of the woolen blanket in the‘Kautilya Artha Sastra’ of Chanakya Bishnu Gupta(Kautilya) which dates back to 4th century B.C.proves this fact. Nepalese bronze artefacts havebeen treasured by the Tibetans since the timeof the Lichchhavis (3rd and 4th century A.D.).During the medieval period, Nepalese handicraftswere very popular in China and India. Sculpturedornaments and religious idols and statuettesin gold, silver, bronze, brass, stone and woodand embossed with semi-precious stones werehighly sought-after merchandise in China andIndia. Chinese travellers appreciated the skilland craftsmanship of the Nepalese artisans,especially their weaving, spinning, wood carvingand metal work. The contribution of the mastercraftsman, Arniko, who enriched Nepalesehandicrafts and popularised them throughoutTibet, China and other countries of the FarEast was immense. Nepalese handicrafts aredeeply rooted in the socio-religious and culturallives of the people. They can be divided intotwo main categories: articles of daily use andartefacts/articles of aesthetic value and religioussignificance. These range from artefacts linked toritualistic cults during the worship of deities toobjects used in daily life, like pots and hairpinsto hookahs (hubble-bubble), beads, shawls andskirts. Ethnic craftsmen have demonstrated theirdistinct characteristics in the design, modellingand production process of the artefacts. Theethnic utilitarian handicrafts constitute a longrange of articles, like khal-lohara (pestle andmortar), amkhora (waterpot), anti (winejar), sukunda(oil lamp), karuwa(water jar), thaal(plate), kachaura(saucer), kasaudi(cooking pot), chulesi(vegetable cutter),gagri (water pitcher),khukuri (gorkha knife) anddhakki (basket).Nepal’s handicraftindustry of todayis almost totallydependent on tourism48

and export. The habit of using handicraftsis, however, gradually increasing among thelocal people, too. Projects for the restorationof temples and monuments launched by bothgovernment and non-government agencies withinternational cooperation have helped revive andsustain handicraft production and trade, suchas brick and tile manufacturing, woodcarving,metal and bronze casting, stone carving andso on. In fact, handicrafts are the true mirrorof Nepalese cultural and artistic heritage andreflect the glorious art traditions of the past.The fine craftsmanship of Nepalese artisans hasnot only attracted foreign visitors, but has alsoenhanced the country’s image abroad. It is thusone of the country’s most important industrieshaving a wide international market. The skill hasbeen handed down from father to son and fromone generation to another. Nepalese handicrafts,particularly bronze figures, wooden artwork,pashmina shawls and thangka paintings havebeen very popular gift items among the tourists.Bronze artefacts like the sukunda, or traditionalNepalese oil lamp, prayer wheels, metal bells andtraditional dolls are some of the highly popularsouvenir gift items coveted by the tourists.

Mani Rimdu FestivalMasksMask dances having religious significance arepopular with the masses in the country. Masksare used for different religious purposes, andsome gods, particularly Bhairav, is worshipped inmask form. In the Kathmandu Valley, traditionalmasks are made by the Chitrakars. The mask alsorepresents the culture, religious tradition andbelief of the society or community. Ritualisticdances performed with grotesque masks and ornatecostumes accompanied by traditional music reflectbeauty and grace as well as a pride in tradition. Inreligious dances, masks are used for two purposes:firstly, for the dancer to receive divine powerpsychologically and secondly, to sweep away theonlookers psychologically from reality to the other

world. All mask dances observed in Nepal havesome legend behind them. Wooden masks arepopular in the northern parts of the country,and they are made by the Lamas. The Tamangsliving in the periphery of the valley are famousfor their skill in manufacturing wooden masks.Masks are also very popular among the touristsas souvenirs.

OthErSPEciALitiEs

OtherSpecialitiesThe ethnic dresses and ornamentsof Nepal represent a myriadcollection of rich cultural diversity.Dresses and ornaments differsignificantly with climate andregions - as in the high mountainsand the lowlands of the Terai, aswell as in the eastern, central andwestern regions where differentethnic groups dwell.Chhetri women from Far westCostumes And OrnamentsNepalese costumes and ornaments are unique andvaried in their own ways. Ethnic groups and indigenouspeople have their own typical attire for men andwomen. The ethnic dresses and ornaments of Nepalrepresent a myriad collection of rich cultural diversity.Dresses and ornaments differ significantly with climateand regions - as in the high mountains and thelowlands of the Terai, as well as in the eastern, centraland western regions where different ethnic groupsdwell. Normally, Nepalese men wear a long shirt, ordaura, and trouser, or suruwal, while womenfolk wearblouse, or cholo, and sari. This female attire exudesgrace and beauty. Nepalese women invariably wearsome ornaments on their ears, nose or neck. Goldand silver ornaments are worn by Nepalese womenaccording to their economic status. Most marriedNepalese women prefer to wear a long necklace of redbeads called potey with or without gold decorationon their necks and put red sindoor on their headsin between the central partition of the hair. Marriedwomen wear glass bangles generally of red colour ontheir wrists. Potey (bead-necklace), red/green banglesand sindoor are the typical signs of a married woman.Hindu tradition forbids widows of this luxury.53

Nepalese CuisineCooked rice (bhat) or a thick paste of maize ormillet powder called dhedo, with some dal, orlentil soup, and vegetable curry and hot pickleform the daily staple Nepalese cuisine. Peoplein the Terai eat roti, a round pancake-like breadmade of wheat flour, with curry and pickles.During feasts, people make preparations ofmeat, varieties of curries and sweets. Nepalesecuisine is usually spicy and hot. Momo, a smallround wheat ball stuffed with meat, is the mostpopular snack among the natives and foreigners.It is eaten along with some hot and sour pickle.Momo and chhoyela, or small pieces of meatsteamed or barbecued and mixed with a hotpaste of garlic and other spices, are gainingpopularity among foreigners. Food dishes ofNepal have their own unique taste and typicalflavour and are a gourmet’s delight. Nepalesenormally eat food with the hand while seatedcross-legged on the floor, usually upon a thickflat wooden board, though this practice haslargely given way to the dining table and chairin the urban areas.Musical InstrumentsMusic is an integral part of Nepalese festivities.The sound of many-toned drums, blastingtrumpets and clashing cymbals accompany thecelebration of festivities. There are numerousindigenous musical instruments, some veryunique to Nepal. Some of these instruments arepopular throughout the country, while some areplayed only locally or on specific occasions. TheSarangi, or a small chordophone which is playedby running a bow over the strings, is made andplayed by the Gandharvas or Gaines, who arethe traditional folk singers of western Nepal. Airor wind blown instruments (aerophones) comein various shapes, sizes and sound. The flute is apopular instrument played with the mouth. TheSahanai or Panchey Baja produces a very movingsound and is played during weddings. The Karnalis another air blown instrument that produces apiercing powerful sound. The Narasingha, Pongaand Muhali are other types of instruments whichare played during religious and social functions.Among the membranophones, the Damphu is adouble-sided disk shaped drum, topped with leatherand with a long wooden handle. It is played bystriking the leather face with the fingers and palm.The Dhol or Dholak is a double-headed drum widelyused in the Terai region of Nepal during public fairsand festivals. Dhimey is a double-headed cylindricaldrum with a big wooden body. Its right side isbeaten with a light winded cane and the left withthe hand of the player. It is widely used by theNewars of the Kathmandu Valley. The Mridanga is adouble-headed drum with a heavy wooden body. Itproduces a gentle and pleasant sound. The Maadalis the most popular drum. Made of leather with awooden body, it largely accompanies folk music anddances in the hills.MeditationThe practice of meditation (dhyana) is deeprooted in the Nepalese society as it is heldsacred by both the Hindu and Buddhist faiths.Meditation is very prevalent in Buddhism andis practised with great devotion. Meditation isa part of yoga. It blends the mind and body,giving way to spiritual solace. Seated in a typicallotus position (Padmasana), practitioners ofmeditation close their eyes and chant sacredwords (mantra) like ‘Om’ synchronising themwith their breathing. Meditation is believed tobring tranquil harmony to the mind.All Nepalese households have idols of deities athome. The devotees worship the gods every morningand evening. Folding their palms and closing theireyes, they pray and meditate for the good healthand prosperity of the family and ultimate salvation(mokshya) of the self after death.54

Faith HealersIn the hilly villages of Nepal, one often encountersthe shamans. Typically attired in white longrobes (jama) and small round bells (ghangla)tied around their waist, and head bedecked withfeathers, these shamans, or jhankris as they arecalled, are a unique facet of Nepalese rural lifein the hills. The shamans believe in animismand animal sacrifice. In Nepalese villages, theyperform the work of healers and forecasters ofthe future. They participate in Hindu or Buddhistcommunity festivals and celebrations, thoughthey do not consider themselves to be devotees ofeither religion. They centre on their own religiouspractices of territorial deities and life-cycle rituals.They harbour beliefs in supernatural beings such asghosts, spirits and demons. They play the Dhyangro,a type of hand-held drum which is beaten with aspecial type of ring-shaped stick. They claim havingthe power to drive away evil sprits tormentingpeople. They thus function as faith healers, drivingaway evil spirits and curing the sick. The faithhealers say they are possessed by some supernaturalforce or the powerful Ban Devi, or forest goddess.They also maintain having the ability to performmiracles. The jhankris make a pilgrimage to GosainKunda on Janai Purnima day in the month of August.

Published By:Nepal Tourism BoardBhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, NepalTourist Service CenterP O Box: 11018Tel:+977-1-4256909Fax:+977-1-4256910E-mail:info@ntb.org.npNepal Tourism Board