Nepal is located in the northern part of the South Asian subcontinent, the southern foot of the Himalaya Mountains, the north of China, the remaining three sides surrounded by India, the area of nearly 150,000 square kilometers, the population of about 30 million, more than 90% of which are mountainous. On the map, Nepal is shaped like a “spoon”, long from north to south and short from east to west, separated by a narrow river, which is the only link between Tibet and India.
When people think of Nepal, they think of Mount Everest, temples and pagodas. In most people’s eyes, this is a poor and backward country, but it is not. According to the United Nations, its gross domestic product (GDP) reached 183 billion dollars by the end of 2021, ranking 16th in the world. Besides, there are also very beautiful natural scenery here, with the “Animal Kingdom”, “Hikers’ paradise”, “Soul of Shangri-La” and other titles. But what many people don’t know is that there are many different customs in Nepal.
bathing culture
In Nepal, I see a lot of people bathing naked in the street. They are not shy, not shy, as if it is natural. Why do they do this? Is it because of poverty? Or is it because they are neat freaks? Not really. Mainly for these reasons:
1. Religious reasons: Buddhists believe that bathing is dirty, so if someone in the family is sick or dies, the family should wipe themselves with a clean towel. They should not wash themselves directly, and they should not take the dirty things outside to avoid contaminating others.
2. Reason for belief: Both Hinduism and Buddhism believe that water is spiritual and can drive away evil spirits. Therefore, people will burn incense and pray for peace in the river or pond.
3. Living habits: Nepal is a rainy country with hot weather. Many people like to take a shower every day to keep themselves clean. Also, because of the climate, Nepalese people tend to have dark skin, so they feel that they need to bathe regularly to make themselves pale.
4. Physical reasons: Local people feel that sweat on the body is dirty and must be washed with water. In addition, their clothes rarely dry, need to be washed often, otherwise it is easy to mold.
5. Convenient sanitation: In rural areas, people don’t have toilets, so they have to pee and defecate anywhere, while going to the toilet in the street is both inconvenient and unelegant. But they don’t think it’s taboo to take a shower, so without a bathroom, people have to wash their face or take a shower on the street.
Here, in almost every street, one can see such a scene: an old man sitting on the side of the road, in front of a large wooden basin filled with water, and beside a basin with some water in it, waiting to bathe. Bathing is an integral part of daily life for Nepalese people, who love to bathe naked in the street and even consider it an art form. Everywhere in Nepal, there are places where passers-by can bathe for free, mostly near the temples. People can wash away fatigue and dust here, enjoy a moment of peace and comfort. When you come here, they also take a shower as a welcome ceremony, inviting you to take a shower with them. So in Nepal, bathing in the street is an attitude of life and a culture for them.
marriage customs
Nepalese people practice monogamy, the man and the woman before marriage, to hold a grand engagement ceremony. On the wedding day, the bride and groom will wear beautiful national costumes. After the wedding, the bride and groom will live in the bride’s home for three days. On the third day, the man will take the bride back to her mother’s home for the formal wedding ceremony. After marriage, wives are not allowed to appear in public, and husbands are not allowed to beat and scold their wives. If the husband and wife do not agree, they may divorce but may not remarry. At the time of divorce, a witness must be hired, who reads a letter of assurance to both parties that they will not be reunited. At the same time, a fortune must be given to the woman’s family. Marriage in Nepal is free and unrestricted, as long as both parties are willing to marry. However, due to the backward economy and culture, many young men and women do not have the opportunity to meet each other, so it is not easy to find suitable partners, resulting in many family tragedies. Therefore, the government should actively encourage and advocate free love, and take some measures to create opportunities for unmarried men and women to meet each other.
Religious Sacrifice
The Nepalese faith is a mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism and Buddhism are both worldwide religions, with Hinduism accounting for more than 80% of the country’s population and Buddhists accounting for about 20%. Both religions recognize the equality of all beings and advocate universal indulgence of all beings. Believers of both religions can believe in Buddhism, God or even both God and Buddha. Therefore, in order to better promote the Buddha’s Dharma, many places will hold solemn sacrificial activities to pray for the Buddha’s blessing. At the same time, in some large monasteries, there are monks chanting sutras to express their reverence for the Dharma.
