Culture and Language

The culture of Nepal is unique. It is rich with music, dance, arts, literature, religion, festivals and food. Temples and monasteries are the foundations of Nepali architecture and dominate the important cultural and historical places.

There are36 different ethnic groups in Nepal and these have developed their own religion, language and music. Folk music is very popular. When travelling in Nepal it is a delight to see the different traditional clothing, taste the different varieties of traditional food and learn about the different cultures of the various ethnic groups.

The main language spoken in Nepal is Nepali with 45% of people using it as their primary language. There are however 123 different languages spoken in Nepal.

The most common greeting in Nepal is “Namaste” with both palms pressed together across the chest. Translated it means “The god in me greets the god in you”.

Religion:

Approximately 80% of the Nepalese population is Hindu with Buddhism as the second most popular. There is also a lot of “fusion” elements of both that is commonly seen in Nepal. In the mountain areas Buddhism is more predominant while in the cities, mid hills and flat lands Hinduism predominates. Nepalese people are very religious by nature and hold close to their beliefs and culture. There is also a strong belief in spirits, ghosts and Shamanism and Shamans are often consulted for treatment of illnesses.

Festivals:

The biggest festival of the year is Dashain which is held for 15 days in late September or early October. There are many other festivals and celebrations held in Nepal and most months are host to different celebrations.