treasures of nepal

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