Nepalese Society

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Nepali People & Society Tony Rebollo

Transcript of Nepalese Society

Nepali People & SocietyTony Rebollo

People• Ethnic Groups: 125 reported in 2011• Chhettri, Brahman-Hill, Magar, among highest

• Languages: Nepali 44.6%, but 123 languages were reported as mother tongue in 2011

• Religion• Hindu 81.3%• Buddhist 9%• Muslim 4.4%• Kirant, Christian, and others below 3% of population

People• Population: 30,986,975 (2014)• Median Age: 22.9 years• Population Growth Rate: 1.82%

People• Urban Population: 17%• Kathmandu: 1.015 Million

• Life expectancy: 67.19 years• Exposure to improved drinking water: 88.1%• Exposure to improved sanitation: 36.7%• Risk of Major Infectious Diseases: High• Bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, typhoid, malaria, dengue

fever• Most rural people are sustenance farmers• 70% of households have less than 1 hectare and may depend on

plots too small for food

People• Literacy (ages 15< can read/write): 57.4%• Male: 71.1%• Female: 46.7%

• Child labor (ages 5-14): 2,467,549• Education• 72% from government schools failed last years School Leaving

Certificate exam• Civil war damaged education system• Teacher absenteeism is common• Education has improved, new education official is bringing change

Caste System• Affects family life, food, dress, jobs, culture• Brought to Nepal by Indians• Based on heredity• Castes• Brahmin (priests, scholars, educators)• Kshatriya (soldiers, governors, kings)• Vaishya (Merchants, farmers, cattle herders)• Sudra (laborers, artisans, service providers)

• 36 castes• Dalit: untouchables

• Punishments for breaking one’s caste are illegal now• Caste system technically no longer exists, but can still be seen• Arranged Marriage

Customs & Courtesies• Greeting: “namaste” with palms held together• To be formal or respectful add –ji to end of name• “namaste, Jonn-ji”

• Yes: tilt head to one side and back other way• No: hold one hand up in front, palm forwards, swivel wrist

subtly• Point with chin rather than finger

Customs & Courtesies• Once food has touch lips, it’s polluted for others• “Waterfall” drinks• Don’t eat off other plates or offer food you’ve taken a bite of• Don’t touch cooked food unless you bought it already• If eating with hands, only use right• Don’t wipe your mouth or pass food with the left hand• Give & receive with right hands only• Offer money or gifts with both hands or the right while the left

touches the wrist

Customs & Courtesies• Men: always wear a shirt and pants if possible in public (shorts

on trails)• Looking clean and well groomed shows respect• forehead is most sacred part of body, impolite to touch• Feet are unclean, don’t put them up or point soles at anyone• Handshaking has increased, but not all women feel

comfortable shaking a mans hand

Customs & Courtesies• Hindu temples• Usually off-limits to nonbelievers• Take off shoes• No photos unless you ask• Leave rupees in donation box• Don’t wear leather

• Buddhist temples• Walk around Buddhist stupas and monuments clockwise

• Private homes• Fruit or sweets are good gifts, but don’t expect thanks• Take shoes off or follow example of host• Eat first, take less than you can eat• Don’t throw trash or scraps in the family hearth

Customs & Courtesies• Touts• Lone entrepreneurs and middlemen• Ignore or ask nicely

• Don’t give to street children and watch your wallet

Food• Dal Bhat (pulses and rice) is main food of Nepal, eaten twice a

day• Other Nepalese recipes usually include different spices like

ginger, garlic, pepper, cumin, chiles, or yak butter• Higher castes: vegetarian and do not drink• Lower castes may drink and some eat pork and beef• Restaurants weren’t popular but are increasing due to tourism• Masu: spiced or curried meat with gravy

Architecture• Urban areas have shikhara temples, buddhist stupas, palaces,

brick houses, and some Western-style buildings• Rural architecture is simple, usually made of the materials

available