Saturday, March 26, 2011

Nepal is in southern Asia between India and China. The Himalayas fall within the country's boundaries, thus Nepal is well known for its mountainous and hilly topography.

Nepal is divided into 3 regions.


The Himalayan Region

Himalayan Region lies in the northern part of Nepal.Altitude over 3000 meters to 8848 meter above sea level.15% of the total land area is occupied by Himalayan Region.The world's highest peak Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) lies in this region.Other famous Himalaya like kanchanjungha,Annapurna,Makalu,Dhaulagiri,Manaslu,Lhotse etc are also lies in this Region.The climate in this region used to be cold.Mostly Sherpas live in this region.Sherpas are also famous for climbing mountain.They often make record to climb mountain.Specially people in this region wear thick woolen clothes like Bakkhu.Yak are available in this region.

The Hilly Region

The Hilly Region lies between 300 meters to 3000 meters above sea level.The capital city of Nepal (Kathmandu) valley lies in this region.The Pokhara valley,one of the most beautiful valley also lies in this region.About 68% of total land area of Nepal is occupied by this region.This region is also known as mid himalayan region.The climate is moderate in this region.Different kinds of casts of people live in this region,such as Brahmin,Chhetri,Newar,Gurung,Rai ,Limbu etc,The main occupation of the people of this region is agriculture.

The Terai Region

The Terai Region means the plain region also called Madhes in nepali language.And is located from east to west.Altitude over 60 meter to 300 meter above sea level.About 17% of the total land area of Nepal is occupied by this region.This region is the main agricultural region of Nepal.About climate,its hot here.People wear light clothes like Dhoti,Kurta,Lungi etc.Most of the houses in this area are built of mud and clay with thatched roofs.Now a days numbers of concrete houses are built by people.The main occupation of the people of this region is agriculture.They grow paddy,wheat,mustard,maize etc.Hindus,Buddhists,and some Muslims live here.Different types of languages like Bhojpuri,Maithili,Hindi are spoken in this area.

Kathmandu


Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal.It is situated at the altitude of 4000 ft. above sea level.This is the largest city of Nepal.Population over 3 million make crowdy to this valley.Kathmandu is also the historical city of Nepal.Kathmandu Durbar square area is one of the ancient area of Kathmandu.In Durbar Square area there are so many historical palaces,temples we can see.This area is preserved as world heritage.Kathmandu is also known as city of temples because there are so many temples inside Kathmandu valley.Almost temples of Kathmandu and all Nepal are pagoda style.

Pahupati nath Temple:Pashupat nath temple is famous for Hindus.Devotees from Nepal and India come here to visit this temple.Pashupati nath is known as god Shiva.God Shiva is very popular for all the Hindus.There are four main silver doors of Pashupati nath.Huge bull is situated in front of Pashupati nath temple.Bagmati river flows from the east side of Pashupati nath temple.Cremation is near from Pashupati nath.Where dead body used to be burnt.

Ancient History Of Kathmandu


There are different views about the origin of Kathmandu valley. According to the Buddhist interpretation, in ancient time, Kathmandu valley was a lake. One day Manjushree came from China and dropped out the seed of lotus into the lake. After some days the seed became a plant. He cut the hill near Chovar by his sword thinking that the land would be changed into suitable place for settlement. The water of the lake passed through the gorge. Then Manjushree made Dharmakar the King of the valley.He built a town called 'Devapattan' near Pashupati. According to Hindu religion ,in Dwapar yuga, Lord Krishna came to Nepal from India(Dwarika) with his herdsmen. They kept cows with them. They were Gwala. They are called Yadav at Present. So they were called 'Gopala'.Lord Krishna cut the hill of Chovar by his Shudarshan Chakra. The water of the lake passed out. The place (lake) changed into a very fertile land. So the herdsmen wanted to stay in the new place. They had many cows with them. Among them, a particular cow used to drop the milk at a particular place. The owner of the cow wanted to know the cause of the event. So, he dug the place. A bright and powerful light appeared there and the heardsman was killed burning by the light. His son Bhuktaman was made the king by a famous saint known as 'Ne'. According to scientific view, there was a lake before the origination of Kathmandu valley. The rivers of the surrounding area depositeda lot of sediments at the bottom of the lake at a long time. As a result, the bottom of  the lake grew up .The water of the lake passed out through the gorge of Chovar due to the cause of surface movement of the earth.

Preserve National Heritage

Nepal is rich country in natural resources. National Heritage consists of the blessings that nature has bestowed on Nepal.Mountain ranges such as Sagarmatha, Gaurishankar, Makalu, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri etc. are in Nepal. Pokhara, Kathmandu, Dang etc. are green valleys. The soil of the Terai is very fertile. Phewa, Rara, Begnas etc. arenoted lakes whereas Koshi, Karnali, Mahakali, Arun, Sunkoshi etc are noted rivers, from where electricity can generate.Water is also used for irrigation that helps to increase agriculture products.There are rich deposits of Zinc, Mica, Copper,Iron, Limestone etc.There are many national parks.Many tourists come to visit this beautiful place. On the other hand museums are store houses of knowledge regarding past. They contain many valuable articles belonging to ancient times and recent history. Likewise, the museum of Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur and Patan are also of great importance. Ancient temples and building stand as historical evidence of great events. Some of ancient monuments like Singha Durbar, Pashupatinath temple, Ram Janaki temple, Hanuman Dhoka, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Lumbini are monuments of Nepal. Nepal Government has taken all measures to protect these monuments.

Festivals In Nepal


Nepal is a multi-lingual, multi-religious, multi-racial and multi-cultural country. This multiplicity is our national identity. People of over a hundred of races live in Nepal. People living in either part of the nation are Nepalese. Our love, honour and respect one another spontaneously. We don't discriminate one another on the basis of dress-up, festival, religion, language , region and ethnicity. We should let every one feel spaced in the couthry. It is high time to materialize the dream of New Nepal. Nepal is a common land of indigenous Janjatis, Dalits, Madhesi as well as Brahmins and Chhetris. Different kinds of people follow their own ways of life, festivals, dress-up and belief system. But all Nepalese share the common national interest. Let us have a discussion on some major festivals celebrated in Nepal.


Tihar
Tihar is an important national festival in Nepal. It is also known as 'Dipawali'. Tihar is celebrated for five days. Tihar is called a 'festival of light'. More than a religious, it is a cultural festival. On the first and the second day, crow and dog are worshipped respectively. On the third day of Tihar Goddess Laxmi is worshipped. Candles and lamps are burnt around the house. People play deusi and bhailo. The fifth or the last day of Tihar is known as 'Bhai-Tika. It is the main event of Tihar festival. On the day, sisters worship their brothers offering Tika and floral garlands. Sisters pray for the long and healthy life of their brothers.
Lhosar
Lhosar is celebrated by the people like Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung etc, They celebrate this festival in the same name but in different times and ways. During festival, people eat variety of foods and dance together at night . This festival binds people together forgetting their sorrow and bitterness.
Chhath
Chhath is the festival to worship the Sun-God. It is celebrated mainly in the Terai on the sixth day of Kartik Shukla Pakshya. On the 5th day of Kartik Shukla people fast throughout the day. They worship the setting Sun that day. Tomorrow people go to the river, pond and lake. They take bath and worship the rising Sun. After worshipping the Sun god, the fasting is over. Then they take variety of food. It is believed that this festival brings happiness, long life to all the members of family.
Eid
It is a great festival of Muslim community. It falls in the month of July. Muslims celebrate this festival to mark New Year.On that day, Muslim people go to the mosque and read Namaz. They greet one another. On that occasion, they wear new dresses and eat variety of food. They also give alms to the poor, disabled and helpless people.
Christmas
Christmas is celebrated by Christians. It is celebrated in the name of Jesus Christ. He was the founder of  Christianity. Christians believe that Christ falls on 25th December. In this festival Christians decorate a tree with colorful papers. This tree is called 'Christmas tree'. On the occasion, Christians put the presents given by their friends and relatives under this tree. During this period, they invite their friends and relatives for the special meal. They also visit thier relatives and friends in return.

National Heroes


Janak was the king of Mithila. He believed on spirituality. He is known as an ideal king because he did not discriminate the people in his state. He recognized the intellectuals and sages in his Palace. Sita was daughter of  Janak. She was an ideal lady.She practised selflessness, dutifulness and love in the society.She was married to Shree Ram, the son of Dasarath of Ayodhya.

Avay Malla
During the rule of the king Avay Malla in 1243 A.D, the famous artist Araniko left for Tibet along with 80 other fellow artists. At that time he was 27 yrs old.The china Emperor Kublai khan had invited the Nepalese artist in china. Araniko and his friends built white pagoda and other chaityas in the capital city of China.

Anshuverma
Anshuverma was the famous king of Lichchhavi period. He kept good relation with India and China. He got his daughter Bhrikuti to marry with the Chinese Emperor Shron-chong-Gampo. Ansuverma also had closed and friendly relation with the then Indian Emperor Harsha Bardhana. He built the Kailashkut Bhavan. It was a famous  palace of the period. He wrote a book 'Shabda Vidhya' too.

Ram Shah
Ram Shah was a famous king of Gorkha. He introduced the measurement system like mana, pathi, dharni etc. He is famous for social reform. A popular saying 'nyaya napaye Gorkha janu' (go to Gorkha if you don't find justice anywhere) was famous during his regime.

Amar Singh Thapa
Amar Singh Thapa was the great fighter of Nepal Army during the period of unification of Nepal. He extended the boundary of Nepal upto Kangada. During the Anglo-Nepal war(1841 A.D). He defeated the British troops.

Balabhadra Kunwar
Balabhadra Kunwar was a brave warior of Nepalese Army.In the war at Nalapani (in western Nepal),he fought bravely against British troops.He did not surrender in front of the British troop even after the lack of food and water in the fort. The British were impressed with the bravery of Balabhadra.

Bhimsen Thapa
Bhimsen Thapa was the Prime Minister and Chief of Army during the kingship of Rana Bahadur Shah and Girvanayuddha Vikram Shah. He reformed in social, economic as well as in the army sectors. He challenged the British because he want to keep Nepal free from British interference.

Gautam Buddha
Gautam Buddha was born in Kapilvastu, Nepal in 567 B.C. His father Shuddhodan was the king of Kapilvastu. He taught peace,truth and non violence all over the world. He is also called 'Light of Asia'.

Bhanubhakta Acharya
Bhanubhakta Acharya is a pioneer poet of Nepali literature. He translated Ramayana from sanskrit into Nepali. He, through his literature, united Nepalese people linguistically.

Motr Ram Bhatta
Moti Ram Bhatta is also a poet of Nepalese literature. In his brief life period, he introduced Bhanubhakta and his literature.He died at the age of 30.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first Nepalese woman to scale the height of Mt.Everest. She introduced courage and bravery on behalf of Nepalese woman in the world.