NEPAL Today’s journey takes us to mountainous Nepal -Aditya Poudyal You will learn Facts about Nepal About the people of Nepal Caste system and lifestyle Nepalese culture Festivals of Nepal Adventurous sports in Nepal Gurkhas and Kumari

You will learn

Facts about Nepal

About the people of Nepal

Caste system and lifestyle

Nepalese culture

Festivals of Nepal

Adventurous sports in Nepal

Gurkhas and Kumari

Where it is?

Facts and figures Occupying only 0.1% of the earth – is home to: 2% of all the flowering plants in the world 8% of the world’s population of birds (more than 848 species) 4% of mammals on the earth 11 of the world’s 15 families of butterflies (more than 500 species) 600 Indigeneous plant families 319 species of exotic orchids

Occupying only 0.1% of the earth – is home to:

2% of all the flowering plants in the world

8% of the world’s population of birds (more than 848 species)

4% of mammals on the earth

11 of the world’s 15 families of butterflies (more than 500 species)

600 Indigeneous plant families

319 species of exotic orchids

People in Nepal The northwestern part of the region evolved under Muslim influence The southern flanks of the centre and east under Hindu influence , The northern fringe under Buddhist influence .

The northwestern part of the region evolved under Muslim influence

The southern flanks of the centre and east under Hindu influence ,

The northern fringe under Buddhist influence .

People in Nepal (Contd..) Considered a “Melting Pot” Many different races and religions of people live here. Adds flavor to Nepali culture Main language is Nepali

Considered a “Melting Pot”

Many different races and religions of people live here.

Adds flavor to Nepali culture

Main language is Nepali

Cast system The caste system reflects Nepalese occupational and socio-religiously defined hierarchies Four broad categories of castes, including a category of outcastes, referred to as "dalits.“ Seers (Brahmins) Intellectual and Spiritual Leaders Philosophers Artists Religious Leaders Teacher s Administrators (Kshatriyas) Orchestrate people and projects Producers (Vaishyas) Skillful in creating the material things on which life depends Artisans (Craftsmen) Farmers Followers or Servants (Shudas) Unskilled laborers Their attention spans are relatively short Under supervision they are capable of work and devoted service

The caste system reflects Nepalese occupational and socio-religiously defined hierarchies

Four broad categories of castes, including a category of outcastes, referred to as "dalits.“

Seers (Brahmins)

Intellectual and Spiritual Leaders

Philosophers

Artists

Religious Leaders

Teacher s

Administrators (Kshatriyas)

Orchestrate people and projects

Producers (Vaishyas)

Skillful in creating the material things on which life depends

Artisans (Craftsmen)

Farmers

Followers or Servants (Shudas)

Unskilled laborers

Their attention spans are relatively short

Under supervision they are capable of work and devoted service

Untouchables (Outcastes) Seen as one of the cruelest features of the caste system Anyone who worked in ignominious, polluting and unclean occupations They had almost no rights in society They could not touch anyone in the four castes Several prominent Nepalese have tried to abolish the untouchable as part of the caste system

Seen as one of the cruelest features of the caste system

Anyone who worked in ignominious, polluting and unclean occupations

They had almost no rights in society

They could not touch anyone in the four castes

Several prominent Nepalese have tried to abolish the untouchable as part of the caste system

Lifestyle Filled with Mountains Most Nepalese are farmer 80% live and farm in the hills Home to famous Mt. Everest Use money called Rupees Eat 3 meals a day, with lunch being the main, full meal. Rice is eaten at nearly every meal with Pulse/lentils and vegetables, and pickle. Meat is NOT a regular food.

Filled with Mountains

Most Nepalese are farmer 80% live and farm in the hills

Home to famous Mt. Everest

Use money called Rupees

Eat 3 meals a day, with lunch being the main, full meal.

Rice is eaten at nearly every meal with Pulse/lentils and vegetables, and pickle. Meat is NOT a regular food.

Family Family is the Main Unit Joint Families Family Comes First Individuals Less Important Patriarchal System Divorce Less Common Social Factors Economic Factors Children

Family is the Main Unit

Joint Families

Family Comes First

Individuals Less Important

Patriarchal System

Divorce Less Common

Social Factors

Economic Factors

Children

Rules of appearance Men are generally expected to wear a suit and tie for business, although the jacket may be removed in the summer. Women should wear conservative dresses or pantsuits. When dressing casual, short-sleeved shirts and long pants are preferred for men; shorts are acceptable only when exercising. Most women must keep their upper arms, chest, back, and legs covered at all times. Usually women wear long pants when exercising. The use of leather products including belts or handbags may be considered offensive, especially in temples. Hindus revere cows and do not use leather products.

Men are generally expected to wear a suit and tie for business, although the jacket may be removed in the summer. Women should wear conservative dresses or pantsuits.

When dressing casual, short-sleeved shirts and long pants are preferred for men; shorts are acceptable only when exercising. Most women must keep their upper arms, chest, back, and legs covered at all times.

Usually women wear long pants when exercising.

The use of leather products including belts or handbags may be considered offensive, especially in temples. Hindus revere cows and do not use leather products.

Rules for Behavior The head is considered the seat of the soul. Never touch someone else’s head, not even to pat the hair of a child. Beckoning someone with the palm up and wagging one finger can be construed as in insult. Standing with your hands on your hips will be interpreted as an aggressive posture. Whistling is impolite and winking may be interpreted as either an insult or a sexual proposition.

The head is considered the seat of the soul. Never touch someone else’s head, not even to pat the hair of a child.

Beckoning someone with the palm up and wagging one finger can be construed as in insult. Standing with your hands on your hips will be interpreted as an aggressive posture.

Whistling is impolite and winking may be interpreted as either an insult or a sexual proposition.

Rules for Behavior (cont’d) Feet are considered unclean. If your shoes or feet touch another person, apologize. Gifts are not opened in the presence of the giver. If you receive a wrapped gift, set it aside until the giver leaves. Business lunches are preferred to dinners. Hindus do not eat beef.

Feet are considered unclean. If your shoes or feet touch another person, apologize.

Gifts are not opened in the presence of the giver. If you receive a wrapped gift, set it aside until the giver leaves.

Business lunches are preferred to dinners. Hindus do not eat beef.

Rules of Communication There are more than five major and more than 100 minor languages spoken in Nepal. The official languages are English and Nepalese. English is widely used in business, politics and education. The word "no" has harsh implications. Evasive refusals are more common, and are considered more polite. Never directly refuse an invitation, a vague "I’ll try" is an acceptable refusal. Titles are very important. Always use professional titles. Sir, Dr., etc

There are more than five major and more than 100 minor languages spoken in Nepal. The official languages are English and Nepalese. English is widely used in business, politics and education.

The word "no" has harsh implications. Evasive refusals are more common, and are considered more polite. Never directly refuse an invitation, a vague "I’ll try" is an acceptable refusal.

Titles are very important. Always use professional titles.

Sir, Dr., etc

Business culture Though not essential, it often helps in getting an appointment if you have an local contact. There is a distinct difference in the cultures of the government departments and business organizations. Difficult to get appointment with officials in government department. Great likelihood that your appointment get rescheduled You may be kept waiting for as many as several hours before you actually meet the person. Do be prepared for last minute changes in the time and place of your meeting. It is useful to leave your contact details with the secretary of the person, so that, in case there are changes, you can be informed. Depends upon your position and relation to the department.

Though not essential, it often helps in getting an appointment if you have an local contact.

There is a distinct difference in the cultures of the government departments and business organizations.

Difficult to get appointment with officials in government department.

Great likelihood that your appointment get rescheduled

You may be kept waiting for as many as several hours before you actually meet the person.

Do be prepared for last minute changes in the time and place of your meeting. It is useful to leave your contact details with the secretary of the person, so that, in case there are changes, you can be informed.

Depends upon your position and relation to the department.

Festivals Dashain – biggest festival, Tihar – second biggest Fagu purnima (HOLI) - festival of color Shiva Ratri Teej Gaijatra

Dashain – biggest festival,

Tihar – second biggest

Fagu purnima (HOLI) - festival of color

Shiva Ratri

Teej

Gaijatra

GAI JATRA Gai=cow jatra= festival

HOLI Festival of colors

TIHAR Festival of lights

First day: Fifth day: Second day: Third day: Fourth day:

Adventure Sports in Nepal Trekking Elephant polo - The world's unique sport

Trekking

Elephant polo - The world's unique sport

MOUNTAIN BIKING BUNGEE JUMPING ROCK CLIMBING PARAGLIDING

MONTENEERING Jungle safari RAFTING an d Kayaking

Hot Air Ballooning

Mountain Flights

Ultralight-aricarft flight

FEW MORE

FEW MORE

Kumari Living goddess in Nepal. Kumari literally means virgin in Nepali. Kumari is revered and worshipped by some of the country’s Hindus and well as the Nepali Buddhists though not the tibetan

Living goddess in Nepal.

Kumari literally means virgin in Nepali.

Kumari is revered and worshipped by some of the country’s Hindus and well as the Nepali Buddhists though not the tibetan

GURKHAS

Monument to the Gurkha Soldier near the ministry of Defence, City of Westmintser, London. Courage Loyalty Self sufficiency Physical strength Resilience Orederliness Ability to work hard for long period of times Fighting tenancity Military strategy

Courage

Loyalty

Self sufficiency

Physical strength

Resilience

Orederliness

Ability to work hard for long period of times

Fighting tenancity

Military strategy

Famous painting-Thanka painting They are one of the most expensive paintings in the world They are fine arts which are story telling.

Famous painting-Thanka painting

They are one of the most expensive paintings in the world

They are fine arts which are story telling.

Thank you for your time and Namaste