If you've visited Nepal but are left with more questions than answers, or if you plan to work or live in the country, this is a good book to read. The first 100 pages are a somewhat dry description of the many Nepali tribes and castes, their traditions, differences, and origins.The next chapter "The Nepali life cycle", is fun to read, and enlightening, also in what concerns the status and life style of Nepali women. Take the following example: Hindu tradition poses high responsability on fathers to watch over their daughters; to sidestep this burden, the Newar people invented a trick. Surprising as it is, by marrying their daughters at the age of seven to the god Vishnu, and thus reducing any subsequent marriage to the status of "secondary marriage", there is no shame for the family if the daughter is not "pure" before marriage, and also divorce is possible for her. Also aspects of schooling and courtship are discussed.The chapters are "Dealing with Nepalis" and "Close encounters", reflect the author's experience with handling projects in Nepal and may be very useful
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Business Culture
Find out about business culture, practices, protocol, customs and business etiquette in Nepalcc. Learn about doing business in Nepal, commerce, marketing, corporate structure, negotiating, establishing connections and finding your partner. Receive latest information on Nepal business organization, manners, building relationship, correspondence, traditions, regulations, export, import, selling and buying tactics. Get practical tips on meeting protocol, business entertainment, communication, company policy, social customs, commerce, trading and cross-cultural training.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Culture in Nepal
It is important when you visit Nepal that you are observant and respectful of the culture at all times.
Nepal has a rich cultural history, which is due in part to Nepal being sandwiched between both India and China. Since Nepal is also a very mountainous country, people exist at different altitudes which also affects the way in which they live their lives and hence their culture. The cultural diversity is also evident through the different ethnic and religious groups within Nepal.
The Nepalese people are generally fairly forgiving when people make a cultural hiccup, but they are extremely appreciative of visitors who are respectful to their culture and who make an effort to understand it and abide by it.
Nepal has a rich cultural history, which is due in part to Nepal being sandwiched between both India and China. Since Nepal is also a very mountainous country, people exist at different altitudes which also affects the way in which they live their lives and hence their culture. The cultural diversity is also evident through the different ethnic and religious groups within Nepal.
The Nepalese people are generally fairly forgiving when people make a cultural hiccup, but they are extremely appreciative of visitors who are respectful to their culture and who make an effort to understand it and abide by it.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Culture tour of Nepali
Being culturally rich country, there are a number of places to have a culture tour in Nepal. Therefore, outfitter Nepal believes to help clients to have a tour in such places, brief about the arts, traditions, and architectures of the places where the people abide various kinds of cultures. No doubt that Nepal is a small country with different varieties. It is famous for its unity in diversity, although there is diverse language, culture, religion; customs, tradition and strong belief on own faith, people do have unity and respect on others.
It is said that there are over 90 different ethnic groups people live in Nepal, who speak over 100 languages. There are several social and cultural beliefs and customs among these different ethnic groups in Nepal. Subsequently, the way of celebration, observin8g the culture or festivals, way of wearing things, customs, beliefs and norms etc differ from one ethnic group to another.
Kathmandu valley is the Shangri-la city of Nepal. It is also a unique destination for many, as city is surrounded by hills around and it is also the cradle of Nepalese civilization and culture. The valley boasts seven cultural heritage sites of the world within a distance of mere 20 km. Besides that, the city is famous for its archeological and historical sites as well along with many sight seeing places namely, Namo Buddha [an amazing legend related to Buddha and a good place for meditation], Budhanilkantha, [a remarkable statue of lord Visnu, reclining on bed of snakes], Dakchhin Kali etc are very interesting place for sight-seeing around the valley.
So, if any of you want to have tour and widen the horizon of your knowledge and experience in this small but diverse country, let us give a chance to serve you.
It is said that there are over 90 different ethnic groups people live in Nepal, who speak over 100 languages. There are several social and cultural beliefs and customs among these different ethnic groups in Nepal. Subsequently, the way of celebration, observin8g the culture or festivals, way of wearing things, customs, beliefs and norms etc differ from one ethnic group to another.
Kathmandu valley is the Shangri-la city of Nepal. It is also a unique destination for many, as city is surrounded by hills around and it is also the cradle of Nepalese civilization and culture. The valley boasts seven cultural heritage sites of the world within a distance of mere 20 km. Besides that, the city is famous for its archeological and historical sites as well along with many sight seeing places namely, Namo Buddha [an amazing legend related to Buddha and a good place for meditation], Budhanilkantha, [a remarkable statue of lord Visnu, reclining on bed of snakes], Dakchhin Kali etc are very interesting place for sight-seeing around the valley.
So, if any of you want to have tour and widen the horizon of your knowledge and experience in this small but diverse country, let us give a chance to serve you.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Cultur
Crooked, timeworn streets flanked by irregular, multi-roofed pagodas, stupas and stone sculptures, and into rooms cluttered with horror-eyed masks, spinning prayer wheels, trippy thangka scrolls and Tibetan carpets. Muttered chants, esoteric tantric hymns and Nepalese music hang in the air, whether it be the twang of a four-stringed saringhi or the plaintive notes of a flute. Traditional folk musicians, or gaines, gather for an evening of singing and socialising; classical dancing and trance-like masked dances enliven the Kathmandu Valley and Bhaktapur regions; while no wedding would be complete without the raucous damais - Nepal's modern ensembles. Religion is the lifeblood of the Nepalese. Nepal was declared a secular state by the parliament following the reinstatement of democracy in April. However, there has been a demand by some people to declare it a Hindu state like it previously was. Though many people are Hindus, there are many who practice a syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. The population that isn't Hindu or Buddhist is Muslim, Christian, Sikh, or shamans. While the food acclaimed as ‘Nepali’ and served in restaurants is dal-bhat-tarkari (rice, lentil soup and curried vegetable) with some pickle. Most of the time meals of the affluent Bahun chetris and Newars are dal-bhat-tarkari, this is hardly the makings of nepali people’s food and is definitely not what all Nepalis eat. Nepal has as many types of food as ehnic groups. Even when you eat the same old dal-bhat tarkari, here can be so many types of vegetables you can eat, cooked in so many different ways. Some famous foods are sel roti, _____________. In Kathmandu, food native to any part of the world is available. Along famous trekking routes With any (or all) of these food, you can have a lassi, locally produced beer, or chang, which is a brew made from barley, mainly in the mountains.
Nepal
Nepal (Nepali: नेपाल [neˈpaːl] (help·info)), officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and the world's youngest republic. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. With an area of 147,181 square kilometres (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 30 million, Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass[5] and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the country's largest metropolitan city.
Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Sagarmatha, known in English as Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. It contains over 240 peaks more than 20,000 ft (6,096 metres) above sea level.[6]
By some measures, Hinduism is practised by a larger majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation.[7] Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama gave birth to the Buddhist tradition. About half of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.[8]
A monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms. However, a decade-long People's Revolution by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) along with several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties of Nepal in 2006, culminated in a peace accord and the ensuing elections for the constituent assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the abdication of the last Nepali monarch Gyanendra Shah and the establishment of a federal democratic republic in May 28, 2008.[9] The first President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, was sworn in on 23 July 2008.
Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Sagarmatha, known in English as Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. It contains over 240 peaks more than 20,000 ft (6,096 metres) above sea level.[6]
By some measures, Hinduism is practised by a larger majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation.[7] Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama gave birth to the Buddhist tradition. About half of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.[8]
A monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms. However, a decade-long People's Revolution by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) along with several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties of Nepal in 2006, culminated in a peace accord and the ensuing elections for the constituent assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the abdication of the last Nepali monarch Gyanendra Shah and the establishment of a federal democratic republic in May 28, 2008.[9] The first President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, was sworn in on 23 July 2008.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Nepalese bureaucracy
Nepalese bureaucracy is accused of being inefficient, corrupt, non-transparent and irresponsible. It is also said that Afno Manchhe and Chakari, which is deeply rooted in Nepalese social values, is also highly institutionalized in the Nepalese administration. Many studies have revealed that socio-cultural values affect the administrative system of a country. Upon this background, this study aimed to map the existing administrative culture in Nepal and examine whether socio-cultural values of Nepal affect administrative culture. This study revealed that Nepalese civil service is characterized by values that may be termed bureau-pathology. This is because the administration is guided strongly by particularism rather than universalism, ascription rather than achievement, and authoritarian rather than participatory values. One of the basic characteristics of the Nepalese bureaucracy is that it manifests elements of both the classical and political bureaucracy. More precisely, this study revealed that civil servants do not follow prescribed rules while make administrative decisions. Most often, administrative decisions are influenced by informal sources rather than formal rules, i.e. political influence, bribery, personal connection (Afno Manchhe), and Chakari. Civil servants are guided by status oriented and empire building attitudes. Common administrative norms include slow decision making processes, maintaining high levels of secrecy, ritualized official work, and shifting responsibility to others. There is also great emphasis on process rather than results. In addition, high power distance between superior and subordinates, centralized and non-participatory decision making processes are basic features of the Nepalese administration. This study also uncovered the close relationship between societal culture in Nepal and administrative culture. In fact, Nepalese societal culture is determined by the caste system, family structure, and other belief systems that are ultimately reflected in the administrative system. Both the Nepalese society and administration are dominated by high caste Hindu male Brahmin, Chhetri and Newar. There are two challenges to the current public administration in Nepal. First, given the strong influence of dominant societal culture in shaping administrative culture, how can this sector be reformed. Second, what changes would be introduced in order to make public administration maintain its identity while at the same time catering for the needs of development and citizens.
Behaviours in the Nepalese
There are many behaviours in the Nepalese culture which put western cultures to shame, so it’s important that you do not visit Nepal with a ‘developed versus non-developed’ attitude.
When visiting a Nepalese home always remove your shoes. You should also remove your shoes before entering a temple or Buddhist sanctuary. You may find however that westerners are not allowed entrance to the Hindu temples.
If you visit a home in Nepal then you should also be extremely careful not to throw rubbish of any sort into an open fire as fires are culturally held to be sacred. This observation should also extend to camp fires if you are out trekking with Nepalese individuals.
When eating, you should only use your right hand and ideally, you should try to drink without letting touching the drinking implement with your lips. You should also avoid ‘polluting’ food by ‘contaminating’ it with a used utensil.
You should dress modestly whilst in Nepal as the culture in Nepal is not one for exposing the body. Nudity is not acceptable anywhere under any circumstances. It is not acceptable for a male to take his shirt off and equally, women should not wear revealing clothes as both actions can be deemed offensive. Do not show affection in public, do not shout, and avoid making body contact unless this is essential. The lower parts of the body are the least revered and therefore it’s important not to point at anything with your feet and it is certainly not acceptable to touch anything with your feet. Since the head is spiritually the purest part of the body, then it’s equally important that you do not make any kind of physical contact with it. This means that it is unacceptable for you to pat a child on the head.
When visiting a Nepalese home always remove your shoes. You should also remove your shoes before entering a temple or Buddhist sanctuary. You may find however that westerners are not allowed entrance to the Hindu temples.
If you visit a home in Nepal then you should also be extremely careful not to throw rubbish of any sort into an open fire as fires are culturally held to be sacred. This observation should also extend to camp fires if you are out trekking with Nepalese individuals.
When eating, you should only use your right hand and ideally, you should try to drink without letting touching the drinking implement with your lips. You should also avoid ‘polluting’ food by ‘contaminating’ it with a used utensil.
You should dress modestly whilst in Nepal as the culture in Nepal is not one for exposing the body. Nudity is not acceptable anywhere under any circumstances. It is not acceptable for a male to take his shirt off and equally, women should not wear revealing clothes as both actions can be deemed offensive. Do not show affection in public, do not shout, and avoid making body contact unless this is essential. The lower parts of the body are the least revered and therefore it’s important not to point at anything with your feet and it is certainly not acceptable to touch anything with your feet. Since the head is spiritually the purest part of the body, then it’s equally important that you do not make any kind of physical contact with it. This means that it is unacceptable for you to pat a child on the head.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Visit Nepali Culture
There are many behaviours in the Nepalese culture which put western cultures to shame, so it’s important that you do not visit Nepal with a ‘developed versus non-developed’ attitude.
When visiting a Nepalese home always remove your shoes. You should also remove your shoes before entering a temple or Buddhist sanctuary. You may find however that westerners are not allowed entrance to the Hindu temples.
If you visit a home in Nepal then you should also be extremely careful not to throw rubbish of any sort into an open fire as fires are culturally held to be sacred. This observation should also extend to camp fires if you are out trekking with Nepalese individuals.
When eating, you should only use your right hand and ideally, you should try to drink without letting touching the drinking implement with your lips. You should also avoid ‘polluting’ food by ‘contaminating’ it with a used utensil.
You should dress modestly whilst in Nepal as the culture in Nepal is not one for exposing the body. Nudity is not acceptable anywhere under any circumstances. It is not acceptable for a male to take his shirt off and equally, women should not wear revealing clothes as both actions can be deemed offensive. Do not show affection in public, do not shout, and avoid making body contact unless this is essential. The lower parts of the body are the least revered and therefore it’s important not to point at anything with your feet and it is certainly not acceptable to touch anything with your feet. Since the head is spiritually the purest part of the body, then it’s equally important that you do not make any kind of physical contact with it. This means that it is unacceptable for you to pat a child on the head.
When visiting a Nepalese home always remove your shoes. You should also remove your shoes before entering a temple or Buddhist sanctuary. You may find however that westerners are not allowed entrance to the Hindu temples.
If you visit a home in Nepal then you should also be extremely careful not to throw rubbish of any sort into an open fire as fires are culturally held to be sacred. This observation should also extend to camp fires if you are out trekking with Nepalese individuals.
When eating, you should only use your right hand and ideally, you should try to drink without letting touching the drinking implement with your lips. You should also avoid ‘polluting’ food by ‘contaminating’ it with a used utensil.
You should dress modestly whilst in Nepal as the culture in Nepal is not one for exposing the body. Nudity is not acceptable anywhere under any circumstances. It is not acceptable for a male to take his shirt off and equally, women should not wear revealing clothes as both actions can be deemed offensive. Do not show affection in public, do not shout, and avoid making body contact unless this is essential. The lower parts of the body are the least revered and therefore it’s important not to point at anything with your feet and it is certainly not acceptable to touch anything with your feet. Since the head is spiritually the purest part of the body, then it’s equally important that you do not make any kind of physical contact with it. This means that it is unacceptable for you to pat a child on the head.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Nice to know
The culture of Nepal is a unique combination of tradition and novelty. The traditions are followed as they were and new customs are created to keep pace with the changing times. » Culture in Nepal is an assemblage of music, architecture, religion and literature. » The mountain kingdom of Nepal is multi-ethic and multi-lingual. The land is rich with unique cultural groups like Tharu,Yadav, Ahir, Newars and others.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A critical part of Napalese
A critical part of Nepalese life is religion, and most in Nepal practice Hinduism. Another big portion of the Nepalese are Buddhists. Hinduism is said to be the oldest religion on earth, and it's a fairly complex religion. Hinduism dates back to at least 1500 BC, where it found its beginning in the Indus River valley in northern India and nearby Pakistan. 3 Hinduism is different from many other religions for many reasons. One is because Hindu doesn't recognize one founder of their religion, as Christians do with Christ or Muslims do with Muhammad. Hindus also don't have one sacreda book of teachings as other religions do. Hindus believe in the phrase "all rivers lead to one ocean," meaning that God accepts all worshipers, regardless of what religion they belong to. Because
Kathmandu Durbar
Kathmandu Durbar Square: The Durbar Square is called the Hanumandhoka, the Monkey God’s Door in Nepal, named so after the Monkey God Hanuman. The area is also known as Basantpur, the place for celebrations and festivals. Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Bhaktapur, the famous city of Nepal, situated at an altitude of 1401 meters is a home to medieval art and covers an area of 4 square miles. Bhaktapur means the city of the devotees. The city lies about 14 kilometers east of Kathmandu and can be reached by public transportation. Patan Durbar Square: Patan is situated on the South of Bagmati River and is about five kilometers southeast of Kathmandu. It is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments with bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvingsSwoyambhunath: This Buddhist Stupa holds a special position both among the Buddhists & Hindus. However, the site which is about 70 meters above on the hill on the Ring Road of Kathmandu 3 kilometers from City centre. Pashupatinath: The Pashupatinath temple lies inside the Kathmandu City, the area lying just next to the Kathmandu Airport. Hundreds of foreign tourists are seen each day in the Aryaghat area, the place for the last rite rituals.Bouddhanath: One of the oldest and the biggest Buddhist monuments ever built in Nepal. Bouddhanath is an imposing structure standing some 36 meters. The Bouddhanath lies about six kilometers from the Kathmandu city centre.Changunarayan: Although less visited shrine by the locals, a whole day is needed to study and enjoy Changu Narayan, just 15 kilometers from Kathmandu cityLumbini Temple: Lumbini, where Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautam. The site is in a beautiful Garden. Lumbini is about 20 minute drive from Siddarth Nagar, a town in mid western Nepal.
Culture
Culture includes language, dress, traditional practice, literature, religion, dances, belief and others. These aspects are the assets of the society. They are also related to the environment, Cultural heritages are those things related to culture which passed on from one generation to next. Culture is linked with the human and social development activities. People cannot be away from their cultural phenomena. Almost all the human activities such as life-styles economic activities social activities are related to the culture. Culture is our life –related practice. Cultural heritages plays a vital role to introduce a country in an international area .Nepal is place of inhabitants of different ethnic groups so, they are different languages dialects, customs, traditions. The cultural heritages of Nepal are listed in the world heritage list by the help of UNESCO. The cultural heritages Nepal enlisted in the world heritage list are as follows:
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The architecture of Nepal
The architecture of Nepal is another art that has become an important part of the country's culture. Nepal's architecture can be divided into three broad groups, the stupa style, the pagoda style and the shikhara style.
Nepal is constitutionally a Hindu kingdom with legal provisions of no prejudice against other religions. The Hindu inhabitants in the country has been constantly over 80 percent since the 1950s. The second largest religion of Nepal is Buddhism, it is practiced by about 11 percent, while Islam comprises of about 4.2 percent of the population. The Kirat religion makes up nearly 3.6 percent of the population.
Nepal has many customs and beliefs that might be difficult to understand and not so easy to obey but this is the way of life to them and you should respect it when you are in their territory.
Do not feel offended if any Nepalese hesitates to shake hands with you because it hasn't been very long since the western traditions were introduced to them. Most Nepalese greet one another by a “Namaste”, a common act done by putting the palms together in a prayer like gesture.
It is customary to eat and deal with food with your right hand. They use their left hand to wash themselves after being to the toilet. Note that most Nepalese eat with their hands, forks and spoons are not very common.
Note that men and woman should always dress appropriately. Men should not walk or trek bare-chested, shorts are acceptable but it's recommended to rather wear long pants. Women are recommended to wear long skirts that cover the ankles, because exposure of a woman's legs can draw unnecessary attention.
Showing affection between men and woman in public is not acceptable. So avoid kissing, hugging, cuddling or even holding hands in public
Nepal is constitutionally a Hindu kingdom with legal provisions of no prejudice against other religions. The Hindu inhabitants in the country has been constantly over 80 percent since the 1950s. The second largest religion of Nepal is Buddhism, it is practiced by about 11 percent, while Islam comprises of about 4.2 percent of the population. The Kirat religion makes up nearly 3.6 percent of the population.
Nepal has many customs and beliefs that might be difficult to understand and not so easy to obey but this is the way of life to them and you should respect it when you are in their territory.
Do not feel offended if any Nepalese hesitates to shake hands with you because it hasn't been very long since the western traditions were introduced to them. Most Nepalese greet one another by a “Namaste”, a common act done by putting the palms together in a prayer like gesture.
It is customary to eat and deal with food with your right hand. They use their left hand to wash themselves after being to the toilet. Note that most Nepalese eat with their hands, forks and spoons are not very common.
Note that men and woman should always dress appropriately. Men should not walk or trek bare-chested, shorts are acceptable but it's recommended to rather wear long pants. Women are recommended to wear long skirts that cover the ankles, because exposure of a woman's legs can draw unnecessary attention.
Showing affection between men and woman in public is not acceptable. So avoid kissing, hugging, cuddling or even holding hands in public
Nice to know
» The culture of Nepal is a unique combination of tradition and novelty. The traditions are followed as they were and new customs are created to keep pace with the changing times. » Culture in Nepal is an assemblage of music, architecture, religion and literature. » The mountain kingdom of Nepal is multi-ethic and multi-lingual. The land is rich with unique cultural groups like Tharu,Yadav, Ahir, Newars and others.
Religion in Napal
Religion in Nepal is not only a system of social coherence based on certain rituals and beliefs, rather it is the binding force that ties the mountain kingdom together. Though Nepal is famous, as the world's only Hindu Kingdom, equal respect is given to other religions as well. Buddhism is the second largest religion followed in Nepal, others being Tantrism, Islam and Christianity.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Behaviours
There are many behaviours in the Nepalese culture which put western cultures to shame, so it’s important that you do not visit Nepal with a ‘developed versus non-developed’ attitude.
When visiting a Nepalese home always remove your shoes. You should also remove your shoes before entering a temple or Buddhist sanctuary. You may find however that westerners are not allowed entrance to the Hindu temples.
If you visit a home in Nepal then you should also be extremely careful not to throw rubbish of any sort into an open fire as fires are culturally held to be sacred. This observation should also extend to camp fires if you are out trekking with Nepalese individuals.
When eating, you should only use your right hand and ideally, you should try to drink without letting touching the drinking implement with your lips. You should also avoid ‘polluting’ food by ‘contaminating’ it with a used utensil.
You should dress modestly whilst in Nepal as the culture in Nepal is not one for exposing the body. Nudity is not acceptable anywhere under any circumstances. It is not acceptable for a male to take his shirt off and equally, women should not wear revealing clothes as both actions can be deemed offensive. Do not show affection in public, do not shout, and avoid making body contact unless this is essential. The lower parts of the body are the least revered and therefore it’s important not to point at anything with your feet and it is certainly not acceptable to touch anything with your feet. Since the head is spiritually the purest part of the body, then it’s equally important that you do not make any kind of physical contact with it. This means that it is unacceptable for you to pat a child on the head.
When visiting a Nepalese home always remove your shoes. You should also remove your shoes before entering a temple or Buddhist sanctuary. You may find however that westerners are not allowed entrance to the Hindu temples.
If you visit a home in Nepal then you should also be extremely careful not to throw rubbish of any sort into an open fire as fires are culturally held to be sacred. This observation should also extend to camp fires if you are out trekking with Nepalese individuals.
When eating, you should only use your right hand and ideally, you should try to drink without letting touching the drinking implement with your lips. You should also avoid ‘polluting’ food by ‘contaminating’ it with a used utensil.
You should dress modestly whilst in Nepal as the culture in Nepal is not one for exposing the body. Nudity is not acceptable anywhere under any circumstances. It is not acceptable for a male to take his shirt off and equally, women should not wear revealing clothes as both actions can be deemed offensive. Do not show affection in public, do not shout, and avoid making body contact unless this is essential. The lower parts of the body are the least revered and therefore it’s important not to point at anything with your feet and it is certainly not acceptable to touch anything with your feet. Since the head is spiritually the purest part of the body, then it’s equally important that you do not make any kind of physical contact with it. This means that it is unacceptable for you to pat a child on the head.
Nepale Dress
Daura-Suruwal, typically termed as 'Labeda-Suruwal' is the traditional Nepali dress. The dress has several religious beliefs identifying its designs and has therefore remained the same from the years. The Daura has eight strings that serves to tie itself up around the body. Eight is the lucky number in Nepali mythology.Also, the Daura has five pleats or Kallis, signifying Pancha Buddha or Pancha Ratna. And the closed neck of the Daura signifies the snake around the Lord Shiva's neck. The Nepali dress for women is a cotton sari (Guniu), that is gaining great popularity in the fashion world.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Nepalese bureaucracy
Nepalese bureaucracy is accused of being inefficient, corrupt, non-transparent and irresponsible. It is also said that Afno Manchhe and Chakari, which is deeply rooted in Nepalese social values, is also highly institutionalized in the Nepalese administration. Many studies have revealed that socio-cultural values affect the administrative system of a country. Upon this background, this study aimed to map the existing administrative culture in Nepal and examine whether socio-cultural values of Nepal affect administrative culture. This study revealed that Nepalese civil service is characterized by values that may be termed bureau-pathology. This is because the administration is guided strongly by particularism rather than universalism, ascription rather than achievement, and authoritarian rather than participatory values. One of the basic characteristics of the Nepalese bureaucracy is that it manifests elements of both the classical and political bureaucracy. More precisely, this study revealed that civil servants do not follow prescribed rules while make administrative decisions. Most often, administrative decisions are influenced by informal sources rather than formal rules, i.e. political influence, bribery, personal connection (Afno Manchhe), and Chakari. Civil servants are guided by status oriented and empire building attitudes. Common administrative norms include slow decision making processes, maintaining high levels of secrecy, ritualized official work, and shifting responsibility to others. There is also great emphasis on process rather than results. In addition, high power distance between superior and subordinates, centralized and non-participatory decision making processes are basic features of the Nepalese administration. This study also uncovered the close relationship between societal culture in Nepal and administrative culture. In fact, Nepalese societal culture is determined by the caste system, family structure, and other belief systems that are ultimately reflected in the administrative system. Both the Nepalese society and administration are dominated by high caste Hindu male Brahmin, Chhetri and Newar. There are two challenges to the current public administration in Nepal. First, given the strong influence of dominant societal culture in shaping administrative culture, how can this sector be reformed. Second, what changes would be introduced in order to make public administration maintain its identity while at the same time catering for the needs of development and citizens.
Nepal country
Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. By some measures, Hinduism is practiced by a greater majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation.[6] Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama gave birth to the Buddhist tradition. About half of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a dayA monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms. However, a decade-long People's Revolution by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) along with several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties of Nepal in 2006, culminated in a peace accord and the ensuing elections for the constituent assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the abdication of the last Nepali monarch Gyanendra Shah and the establishment of a federal democratic republic in May 28, 2008.[8] The first President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, was sworn in on 23 July 2008.
Culctur
Crooked, timeworn streets flanked by irregular, multi-roofed pagodas, stupas and stone sculptures, and into rooms cluttered with horror-eyed masks, spinning prayer wheels, trippy thangka scrolls and Tibetan carpets. Muttered chants, esoteric tantric hymns and Nepalese music hang in the air, whether it be the twang of a four-stringed saringhi or the plaintive notes of a flute. Traditional folk musicians, or gaines, gather for an evening of singing and socialising; classical dancing and trance-like masked dances enliven the Kathmandu Valley and Bhaktapur regions; while no wedding would be complete without the raucous damais - Nepal's modern ensembles. Religion is the lifeblood of the Nepalese. Nepal was declared a secular state by the parliament following the reinstatement of democracy in April. However, there has been a demand by some people to declare it a Hindu state like it previously was. Though many people are Hindus, there are many who practice a syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. The population that isn't Hindu or Buddhist is Muslim, Christian, Sikh, or shamans. While the food acclaimed as ‘Nepali’ and served in restaurants is dal-bhat-tarkari (rice, lentil soup and curried vegetable) with some pickle. Most of the time meals of the affluent Bahun chetris and Newars are dal-bhat-tarkari, this is hardly the makings of nepali people’s food and is definitely not what all Nepalis eat. Nepal has as many types of food as ehnic groups. Even when you eat the same old dal-bhat tarkari, here can be so many types of vegetables you can eat, cooked in so many different ways. Some famous foods are sel roti, _____________. In Kathmandu, food native to any part of the world is available. Along famous trekking routes With any (or all) of these food, you can have a lassi, locally produced beer, or chang, which is a brew made from barley, mainly in the mountains.
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