Introduction to Nepal-Facts & Figure

8/14/2019 Introduction to Nepal-Facts & Figure

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Introduction to Nepal:Facts and Figures

-Kris

Tribhuvan University (TU), Nepal



Issues

-Location & History

-Educational System-Cultural Values & Beliefs

-Religious Sects

-Food, Festivals & Music



Welcome to Nepal!

Area: 147,181 sq. km

Geography: Situated between China in the north andIndia in the South

Location: Latitude: 2612' to 3027' North Longitude:804' to

8812' East

Capital: KathmanduPopulation: 23 million

People:101 ethnic groups and 92 spoken languages

Climate: sub-tropical in low lands to arctics in higher

altitude



Life Expectancy: 60 years

Religion: 81% Hinduism

11% Buddhism

4 % Islam

4% Others

Nepal is the only official Hindu country in the world.



Language: 48% Nepali

52% Regional dialects

Many people working in government and business in Nepalare also able to speak English.

Literacy: 45% of the total population over 15 years of age can read and write.

65% of these people are male.

This means only around 35% of females in Nepal can readand write.



This is the flag of Nepal.

It is the only flag in the

world not to consist of arectangular shape.

The picture in the toptriangle symbolises the

moon.

The picture in the bottomtriangle symbolises the sun.



Natural Resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower,scenic beauty, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; rice, jute, sugar, andoilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Agriculture: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk,water buffalo meat

Nepal has an unemployment rate of 47%. 81% of the population work in agriculture.

42% of the population live below the poverty line.



Exports: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Imports: gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum

products, fertilizer

Currency: Nepalese Rupee

India is Nepal’s main trading partner both for exports and

imports.

India accounts for almost 50% of Nepal’s trade.



Education in Nepal

-Division : Primary (5 yrs) , Middle (3

yrs) , Secondary (2 yrs) , Higher

Education (2 yrs), University- Bachelor’s(3-4 yrs), Master’s (2yrs), M Phil (1.5

yrs), PhD (5 yrs)

-Education is not free in Nepal and it is

personal choice-Types of School-Private &Government;

Public University: 1, Private

Universities: 5



Part of the

Himalayanmountainrange, one of things forwhich Nepal is

famous.



Typical Nepalichildren with

their pet goats.The femalegoats are keptfor their milkwhilst the male

goats are usedfor meat.

(Cats and dogs—alsocommon)



One of the many Hindu

temples in Kathmandu.These temples are hundredsof years old and are madeentirely by hand right downto all the bricks and very

ornate wood carvings.



The bride and groom in atypical Nepali wedding

ceremony.

Nepali brides always wear red

White is only worn by people

mourning in the death of a

relative.



This man is a Sadhu or “holyman”. He is a Hindu and has

left his worldly life behind todiscover enlightenment. Herelies entirely upon donationsto survive. There are manymen like this throughout

Nepal and India.



Typical Nepalischool children

having fun in theirplayground.



People & Customs

The population comprises various

groups of different races and castes.

Some of the main groups: Rai, Gurung,Chhetri, Shepa etc

Nepali is the official language. Multiple

ethnic groups speak more than a dozen

other languages in about 93 different

dialects.

English is spoken by few people.



POPULATION OF MAJOR

ETHNIC GROUPSETH. GROUP POPULATION

Brahman 2896477

Chhetri 3593496Chepang 52237

Gurung 543571

Limbu 359379

Muslim 971056

Magar 1662241

Newar 1245232

Rai 635151



Ethnic Mosaic

Brahmans

-the highest social caste.

-confined in the western and central-priestly caste in all Hindu temples

Chepang and Kusundas-backward ethnic

-hunting tribal people



Ethnic Mosaic

Chhetris and Thakuris

-second to Brahmans

-are rulers, leaders and warriors

Dolpa

-probably the highestsettlements in the world /

2,000 ft. to 14,000 ft.

-All the brothers in a family marry a common



Ethnic mosaic

Magars

-constituent of British and Indian Gurkha

-speak a dialect derived from Tebeto-Burman group of languages

Manangi

-live in the lower hills and valleys

-breed sheep and other cattles.

-archery is arranged in a grand way



Ethnic mosaic

Newars

-natives of Kathmandu, mainly traders

-speak their own language, 'Newari'-are both Buddhist and Hindu

-celebrate numerous feasts and festivals

Rais and Limbus-from the extreme east of Nepal

-have their own deities, beliefs &

languages



Ethnic Mosaic

Tharus

-the indigenous ethnic group/north

-have their indigenous dialect-believe in Animism/nature has souls

-Marriages among the Tharus/ Polyandry

and polygamy

-speak several local dialects



Customs

Hindu and Buddhist traditions /the rules of

marriage are particularly interesting

do not eat beef/worship/national animal

consider cow dung to be pure for women are considered impure during

marriageable age -18 for girls & 21 for women

Even today, most people do not have lovemarriages/decision by the parents

the divorce rate is considerably low.

Tika, a mark on the forehead,



Religion

Hinduism and Buddhism are the two

main religions

-have co-existed down the ages- few are Islam, Christian

Religious Festivals

-biggest and most popular festivals are:

Dashain and Tihar, a celebration of lights

dedicated to Goddess Laxmi.



Nepali foods



Thank you

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Introduction to Nepal-Facts & Figure

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