Nepali Culture

The reason why I chose the Nepali culture is mainly because there was a member of think particular ethnic group in our classroom. I was very intrigued by her culture and wished to learn more, so I decided to interview her. I also felt that this was an opportunity to learn about a culture that I had no prior knowledge of, or one that I would have never thought to learn about.

The Nepali, or Nepalese, people are inhabitants of Nepal, which is a landlocked country located on South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by China, and to the south, east and west by India. Population wise, Nepal is the 41st largest country in the world, with over 26 million residents. The capital of Nepal is Kathmandu. Nepali is the national

During this celebration, kites flying occurs as well as animal sacrifices to please deities. Another celebration includes Tihar (Celebrating the Goddess of Wealth, Laxmi) which takes place during the months of October and November. The first day of Tihar is spent worshipping crows and the second day is spent worshipping dogs. Yenya is the biggest festival in Nepal, and is divided into two festivities, Indra Jatra and Kumari Jatra. Indra Jatra, is in honor of the God Indra, and during this festivity, masks are worn during dances of “deities and demons.” Kumari Jatra-Kumari, meaning “the living Goddess for Hindus,” is honored and celebrated during Kumari Jatra. When it comes to arts and crafts, Nepal is known for its handmade arts and crafts. The crafts there are categorized into two types; Textile and Non-textile products. A few examples of textile crafts include alloy; silk; hemp; and cotton made materials. A few examples of non-textile goods are plastic and glass goods; beaded items; incense; and silver jewellery. Sculpting and painting is also very popular all over Nepal. Currently, the education system in Nepal is under construction, but the current system requires 5 years of primary school, with pre-primary classes offered

At the end of the 5 years, a standard certification is prescribed. Nepal has an adult literacy rate of 56.6%, with a huge gap between literate males and women. Of that percentage of literate adults, 71.6% are males while only 44.5% are women. Nepal is largely a patrilineal, descent through the male line, and patrilocal, having or relating to a marriage pattern in which the couple lives with the husband 's family. Arranged marriages are the norm; when a child reaches marriageable age, the family elders are responsible for finding a suitable mate of the appropriate caste, education level, and social stratum. The bride 's family generally provides a substantial dowry to the groom 's family, while the groom 's family furnishes a much smaller gift of clothing, jewelry, and personal items to the bride. Both families are expected to host a feast during the wedding festivities, which generally last three days. The cost of a wedding, especially to the bride 's family, is high and often puts families into debt. Typically, new daughters-in-law occupy the lowest position. Until a new bride has produced children, she is subject to the