Nepali Customs

Nepal is a small country. King Prithivi Narayan Shah the Great called it a common garden of four castes(jats) and thirty-six sub-castes(Varnas). In fact nowdays, there are many more sub-castes. They have their own languages, dress, social practices and religious. In spite of these differences. They make a common culture- Nepali culture. However, they have not given up their social traditions, practices and ceremonies. We are going to study the social customs and ceremonies of some castes in Nepal.

1. BRAHMINS

The Brahmins live in the Terai region as well as in the mountain region. They command high position in the society and are greatly respected. They follow the Hindu traditions and perform a number of religious and perform a number of religious and social functions. When a baby is born, a ceremony is performed on the sixth day in the Terai and is called the name-giving ceremony (Nwaran). In the mountains, this ceremony is celebrated on the eleventh day. If the baby is son, another ceremony known as ‘Bratabandha’ takes place. The boy is giveb sacred thread (Janai) after some religious rites. This ceremony is performed when he grows older. Marriage is also an important social custom. Generally the marriage is an arranged one but love marriage is also becoming popular. Dowry system in the marriage of this caste in the Terai is an evil other festivals like Judoshital, Nagpanchami, Dashain, Tihar, Teej, Chhat, Chauthchandra, Madhushravant, etc., are also celebrated. The dead body in this caste is burnt according to the Hindu tradition. After death, the dead person’s ‘shraddha’ is also performed for the peace of the departed soul.

2. NEWARS

The newars perform large number of customs. It is said there is seldom a month when Newar festival does not take place. The Newars are divided into two branches. One branch follows the Hindu traditions and other follows the Buddhist traditions. Like the Brahims, they, too, celebrate and marriage ceremony, ‘Nwaran’ is performed within 4 to 11 days of the baby’s birth. Before marriage, Thi (Beivivah)., “gupha Bas” formalities of the girls are performed. Arranged marriage and love marriage are prevalent. Rites of the dead person are performed according to their religious traditions. They are very fond of dance and song. They celebrate their festivals extravagantly, Dashain, Tihar, Mhapuja, Jatras are their important festivals.

3. SHERPAS

The Sherpas live in the Mountain region from Helambu to Solukhumbu. Their chief festivals are Lhosar, Chheju, Durnje, manirimde, Oshe Chheun, etc Gumbas and Ghyangs are the places of worship. The Sherpas who follow Buddhism celebrate Manepuja on Phagu Purnima. They get lamas to perform their religious and cultural rites. The shraddha in this caste is called Ghewa. They bury their dead body under the ground. The name-giving ceremony is celebrated on the third, seventh or eleventh day of the baby’s birth. Arranged and jaro marriage (taking away another man’s wife to marry her) are prevalent in this caste.

4. RAIS

Solukhumbu and eastern mountains are the places where the Rai people live. They follow their social customs and observe their religious festivals. ‘Mundhum’ is their sacred religious book. They get their social and religious ceremonies performed by their own priests. Chandinach and Chyabrungnach are the important festivals of the Rai people. ‘Wine’ and pork also are necessary in the religious and social functions. When they die, they are buried under the ground. They observe the mangwa (shraddha) once a year. They consider ‘Sumnimang Parohang’ (Shiv and Parwati ) as their forefathers and worship them.

5. LIMBUS

The Limbus are the inhabitants of the eastern mountains. Their religious and cultural practices are similar to those of the Rais. Limbus means ‘archer’ and they are actually skilled in archery. When they perform ‘Fedangma’, ‘Mangwa’, ‘Shamba’ to recite Mundhum, which is their holy book and worship ‘Sumnimang Parohang’ (Shiva and Parwati ) regarding them as their ancestors. They worship nature, like Himal and Saptakosi. They never eat new grain until they have worshipped the fround and the cow-shed. Dhannaach and Chyabrungnaach are the important festivals of the Limbus. The name giving ceremony of the son and the daughter in this caste is performed on the third and fourth days of the birth respectively. Arranged marriage is prevalent in the Limbus people. There is a custom of burying the dead among Limbus communities.

6. MAGAR

The Magar settlements are found in Rolpa, Pyuthan, myagdi, Palpa, Tanahun, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Parbat, Sindhull. Dang and Surkhet. The name giving ceremony is solemnized from the eleventh to fifteenth days of the baby’s birth. Besides arranged marriage, jari marriage is seen in the magar people. Taking away another man’s wife for the purpose of his wife is known as jari marriage. Funeral ceremony of the dead magar is performed within 13 days. This caste celebrates ‘Kora Naach’, ‘Ghatu Naach’ and ‘Nag Puja’.

7. THARU

The Tharus live mostly in the Terai, Dang, Surkhet, Udaypur and Chitwan. They are very simple minded. They celebrate ‘Nwaran’ (name giving ceremony), and it takes place from the sixth day to the ninth day of the baby’s birth. There are three customs of marriage in this caste . The marriage is settled by parentes or somebody’s wife is take away. Love marriage is also prevalent. The dead body is either burned or buried. Maghi and Phagu are their important festivals. They are fond of dance like ‘Jhumara’, ‘jatjatin’ and ‘Gopichan’. Apart from these castes, there are many other castes too. They have their own social and religious functions.

Social Structure Of Ancient Nepal:-

The history of Nepal has been divided into three periods:-

1. The Ancient Period (up to 937 BS)

2. Medieval Period (937 BS- 1825 BS)

3. Modern Period (1825 BS onward)

Many kings of various dynasties ruled over Nepal during the ancient period. Bhuktaman is regarded as the first king of Nepal of the Gopal dynasty. After Gopals, Mahishpals ruled over Nepal. Kirants defeated Mahishpals and stared to rule in Nepal. Altogether 29 Kirant kings ruled over Nepal for more than 1200 years. The last king of this dynasty, Gasti was defeated by Nimish, the Lichchhavi king and the Lichchhavi regime was set up in Nepal.

The history of Nepal begins with the Kirants. We have some images and stupas built by them. The Kirants had rich civilization. The names of many places are derived from the Kirant words. For example, Teku from Tengkhu, Tyagul from Tegval, Farping from Fanpring, Banepa from Bhajana, Khopasi from Khurpring, etc. The Kirant had their own script which was called Sirijangha. They worshipped Lord Shiva in the forms of Kiranteshwar Mahadev. They also worshipped serpent, tree, river, stone and lighting. The image of Birupaksha shows the standard of their architecture. Buddhism flourished under the Kirants. The images of deities and the Ashoka stupas speak their rich sculpture. The holy book of Kirant is called the Mundhum in which the rites and rituals followed by Kirants have been mentioned.

The Kirants were short but stout. They had broad cheeks, flat nose, dark eyes and thin whiskers. They established many permanent villages in the valley. They cultivated land and raised cattle for agriculture, meat and milk. They lived in joint family. They had special festivals to mark sowing and reaping. Their major food consisted of milk. Meant, green leaves, vegetables, rice, roots, fruit and fish. They consumed wine. They enjoyed wrestling and bull fighting. They had established many law-courts to punish th criminals. The Kirants were simple in their manner and customs.

The Lichchhavi society was based on caste system. Brahmin, Chhetri, Baisya and Shudra were the main castes. People lived in joint families. The status of women was high in the society. King Mandev had inscribed the image of his wife Bhogini in his coin. Polygamy system was practiced. King Mandev had three wives named Bhogini, Gunawati and Kshem Sundari. Sati system was in practice but it was not compulsory. King Mandev did not allow his mother Rajyawati to do Sati(i. e. burn herself with her dead husband’s body on the funeral pyre) when his father died.

The Condition of education was good during the Lichchhavi period. Amshuverma was a learned king. He had written a book called “Shabda Vidhya”. The Veda, Purana, Smriti, Ramayan, Mahabharat and the ancient religious epics were the main text of that time.

Both male and female could wear the ornaments. King Narendra Dev wore various valuable ornaments. People observed various Jatras and festivals for entertainment. The practice of Baraha jatra, Kailasku-Jatra, etc. are mentioned in the inscription. Dashain, Deepawali, Buddha Jayanti were their main festivals. The Kirants and the Lichchhavis were also entertained by wrestling and bull fighting. There was a good religious tolerance in the society.

There for Nepal is full of history and old memories including all bad and good things, many kings are ruled in this nation all kings are not play good rule in the development of the nation they think only about their life but some kings are really helpful for the development of the nation they ruled for the nation and give some extra things for people and country, such a Nepal is full of history.