What country is Nepal: description, information and interesting facts. Population of Nepal

Standing at the crossroads from India to China, Nepal gradually absorbed the multifaceted age-old culture of these two states, but still its basis is the beliefs and customs of itself.

Religion in the country

The Nepalese are a very devout people, and religious beliefs accompany them at every step from the moment of birth to death. Temples, which are scattered in large numbers throughout the country, are a direct confirmation of this. The local culture is Hinduism and Buddhism "in one bottle", with a fair amount of tantra, and without any disagreement - everyone believes in what he considers true. In addition to the main religions, here you can find Islam and even Orthodoxy.

Nepalese customs

The customs that characterize the culture of Nepal are very unusual in the understanding of a European person. These include the following:

Holidays in Nepal

There are also traditions for celebrations in this Asian country. They are mostly related to religion. Sometimes Nepal is called the country of festivals, because various Buddhist and Hindu, historical and seasonal celebrations are very often held here:

1. New Year in Nepal, according to tradition, it begins in April (baisakh). It is very colorfully celebrated in - palanquins with deities are taken out into the streets, carried through all the streets and stopped at the end to see their traditional battle. After the procession moves to the river, where a huge pillar is installed, which they are trying to topple. As soon as this happened, and the new year comes.
2. Jayanti Buddha- the main holiday for Buddhists. Believers pray, present sacrifices.
3. Dasain. During the holidays, Hindus forgive each other's sins and exchange gifts.
4. Tihar is the festival of lights. For 5 days of celebrations, believers pay respect to various animals - crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and on the fifth day they decorate themselves with flowers - a symbol of longevity.
5. Krishna Jayanti- Krishna's birthday. On this great day, people pray and church hymns sound everywhere.

Family Traditions of Nepal

Residents of a highland country are conservative to the limit in matters of marriage and gender relations. A woman among them is a second-class person, she is not considered, she cannot study and hold high positions. In the family, a woman is obliged to monitor the hearth and raise children. Only in remote regions of Nepal, such as, there are traditions of polyandry, when matriarchy reigns in the family.

This tradition arose due to the fact that, as a dowry, sons are supposed to give an allotment of land, which is very small in Nepal. Therefore, they preferred to marry their sons immediately to one girl, giving all the land to one family and not dividing it. In such families, the woman is in the rank of queen.

As in India, the dead are cremated in Nepal. Moreover, relatives do not show frank grief. The funeral is crowded and spectacular, people rejoice for the one who has found eternal peace. The body is burned in a temple on the banks of the river, and the ashes and bones are thrown into the water.

Art of Nepal

It is interesting to learn about the various crafts that have developed here:

The population of Nepal is 27,070 thousand people. (estimated for 2004). Growth - 2.26% per year. In the 1930s, its population was about 5.6 million people, according to the 1961 census - 9.4 million people, according to the 1971 census - 11.56 million people, according to the 1991 census - 18.5 million people . Government-sponsored family planning programs since the 1950s have not had a significant impact on population growth. Life expectancy - 59 years (2003).

Most of the population is concentrated in the Kathmandu region (population density - more than 1000 people/sq. km.) and the Terai zone (200 people/sq. km.). The mountainous regions in the north are sparsely populated, above 4000 m above sea level there are no permanent settlements. Throughout the 20th century there is a significant relocation of Nepalese from the western mountainous regions to the eastern and to the Terai region. Hindi-speaking migrants from India are also sent to the latter, and now they make up the majority of the population there, against the background of several small indigenous peoples.

The country is dominated by a rural population; only about 12% live in cities. The average density is about 180 people/sq. km. 1230 thousand people live in Kathmandu. (2003). The largest city in the foothills, near the border with India - Biratnagar (174 thousand). Most of the major cities are located near Kathmandu and in the Terai zone: Lalitpur (Patan) (169 thousand) and Bhaktapur (61 thousand). The city of Pokhara (130 thousand) is located in the central part of the country.

Approximately 10 million natives of Nepal and their descendants settled in India, especially in its northeastern mountainous regions and in Sikkim, as well as in Bhutan and Myanmar.

Ethnic composition

The territory of Nepal has been settled in the course of large-scale migrations from neighboring regions over many centuries. The inhabitants of the country are not distinguished by a homogeneous ethnic composition, since within its borders there was a mixture of Mongoloid peoples from Tibet and Aryans from northern India. Some of the differences among population groups depend on the source of migration and the degree of communication and mixing of different groups of migrants. The Mongolian substratum prevails in the zone of the Great Himalayas, and the Indo-Aryan substratum prevails in the south of Nepal, while the intermediate territory was the scene of close interaction between different ethnic groups. The country also has a small community of relatively short dark-skinned people who may be descendants of the ancient inhabitants of Nepal, who had Dravidian roots.

Racial features are traced in the current social structure population: the presence in the family of Indo-Aryan ancestors for centuries in Nepal was considered prestigious, and Hinduism gradually became the dominant religion.

More than 60 nationalities live in Nepal. Half of the country's population is made up of Nepalis, who have long inhabited the Kathmandu Valley. Nepalese merchants are also scattered in other areas. This ethnic group made a great contribution to the development of art (metal art, painting, sculpture, architecture) and literature in the 1319th century. Nepals are divided into Hindus and Buddhists and are distinguished by a complex social organization. Other relatively numerous nationalities of the country are the Gurungs (1.5%) and Magars (2.2%) in the west, Newari (3.4%), Limbu (2.4%), Rai (2%), Sunwari and Tamangs ( 4.9%) in the east. A number of ethnic groups in the north and northeast of the country are united under the name Bhotiya; of these, the most famous are the Sherpas, who often serve as porters in climbing parties and have migrated relatively recently from Tibet. The Terai are inhabited by Tkharu (4.8%), who are classified as natives of these places, who are of Dravidian origin. The southern part of Nepal is inhabited by Indo-Aryan peoples: Maithili (11.5%) and Bhojpuri (7%) (Biharis), as well as Hindustanis and Bengalis.

Nepal is the birthplace of the Gurkhas. This is a layer of the Hindu population of the country, for which military service is a traditional occupation. Being fearless and fierce fighters, Gurkhas are considered good soldiers in the world. From 1815, when the Gurkhas were first hired by the British East India Company to carry out military duties in Bengal, the exodus of young men became an important source of replenishment of the Nepalese treasury thanks to remittances to their homeland and pensions from the British government.

Language

The official language is Nepali (Gurkhali, Gorkhali or Khaskura), native to almost half of the country's inhabitants. Nepali developed from Sanskrit and is quite close to Hindi, belonging to the North Indian group of the Indo-European family of languages; Nepali has also been affected by several mountain languages. Writing based on the Devanagari alphabet.

Another 120 different languages ​​and dialects are spoken in Nepal. In the territory of the Terai and the Sivalik mountains, the inhabitants most often speak one of the dialects of Hindi. Indo-European languages ​​are also common among immigrants from India, including Bengali, Maithili and Bhojputri (Biharian languages), Tharu, Urdu, etc. Tibeto-Burman languages ​​predominate in the Greater Himalayas (at least 100 languages ​​and dialects). Some of them are considered dialects of the Tibetan language (the Bhotiv language is Kham and the Sherpa language is Kangba). English is often used in business practice.

According to the constitution, in areas where Nepali is not the main language local residents, local languages ​​are declared national. However, by decision of the Supreme Court, other languages ​​cannot be used by local governments as an official language.

Religion

Hinduism is the most widespread in the country, declared the state religion and practiced by 86.2% of the population. Hinduism practiced by the Nepalese is presented in the form of Shaivism and also includes elements of Buddhism. A significant part of the population, incl. Gurungs and Sherpas, adheres to Buddhism (7.8%). Most Buddhists are adherents of the Lamaist variety of the Mahayana (the northern branch of Buddhism). There are 3.8% of Muslims in the country, they are concentrated mainly in the Terai zone. There are also followers of Christianity (2%). Among the peoples of the Tibetan-Himalayan group, traditional beliefs are preserved.

Indian Brahmin monks are very influential in Nepalese society, but priests from other religious communities also enjoy authority from their flock.

Overview of the population of Nepal, which is a variety of ethno-cultural groups. The population of Nepal cannot be called a single people, although there is a unifying language - Nepali.

A street acrobat performing as part of a circus troupe in a park in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

By race, this acrobat belongs to the Caucasians and the largest half of the population of Nepal, which considers itself to be from India.

First of all, it should be noted that the border of contact between the South European and Mongoloid races passes through the territory of Nepal.

In other words, Nepal is located on the border where India meets Tibet and China, and in the population of Nepal, respectively, the ethnic groups of the Indo-Aryan group of the Indo-European languages ​​\u200b\u200band the Tibeto-Burmese group of the Sino-Tibetan language family intersect.

As noted by the Russian-language publication "Nepal", released in 1998 under the auspices of the embassy of the then Kingdom of Nepal in Moscow, the Caucasoid type, which includes more than three-quarters of the population of Nepal, is distributed in the southern and middle parts of the country, and along the river valley it penetrated far to north, but usually not higher than 2000 m.

The Caucasians of Nepal are, first of all, the descendants of immigrants from India who migrated to Nepal from the 11th century. Mongoloids are represented primarily by pure Tibetans - Bhotiya (from the word "bhot", which means "Tibet" in Nepali), Sherpas and Thakali. They have a distinctly Mongoloid appearance. The farther north, the stronger the Mongoloid features in the appearance of the population.

Map of the ethnic groups of Nepal.

Map of the ethnic groups of Nepal.

The country is located at the junction of India and Tibet, and the population of Nepal partly belongs to the South European, and partly to the Mongoloid races.

And, accordingly, partly to the Indo-Aryan group of Indo-European languages, and partly to the Tibeto-Burmese group of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages.

Map from the edition "Nepal", issued with the participation of the Embassy of Nepal in Moscow in 1998.

So, there is no Nepalese nationality, although there is an official language of Nepal - Nepali, which also serves as the language of interethnic communication.

Nepali is the language of the caste-confessional group Chhetri. Nepali speakers are also called Khas. But why did the Chhetri language become the official language of the entire population of Nepal?

The fact is that, Chhetri are Indo-Aryan Rajput conquerors from the Indian Kshatriya castein, who spoke a language close to Hindi, Khas, or, in other words, Khas-gorkhali (khas, gorkhali), now known as Nepali. They invaded Nepal, fragmented into many states, in the 16th century, subjugating those belonging to Mongoloid race and the Tibetan-Burmese language family, the Nepalese Magars and Gurungs.

(Also see below. Approx. site). Today, Gurkha soldiers are known throughout the world, serving in the British and Indian armies and some other units.

In 1768, the Gurkha kingdom also conquered the Kathmandu valley and subjugated the Newars. The royal Shah dynasty, which founded the kingdom of Gurkha and then united all of Nepal under its rule, ruled the country until the proclamation of the republic in 2008.

Potter - Newar.

Potter - Newar.

The Newars belong to the second racial part of the population of Nepal - the Mongoloids and the Tibetan-Burmese group of peoples.

ill. from the Nepalese official publication "Cultural treasures of Nepal".

It should be noted that the Newars (sometimes spelled Newars are also found in Russian) are one of the most influential, although far from the largest, ethnic groups of Nepal, which are the original inhabitants of the valley of the current Nepalese capital Kathmandu (the Kingdom of Gurkha made Kathmandu its capital after conquering the valley).

Here is how the 1998 Nepal edition mentioned above characterizes the Newars:

“Inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, the Newars combine the anthropological features of Mongoloids and Caucasoids. In terms of language, they belong to the Tibeto-Burman group (albeit with the addition of Indo-Aryan elements), but anthropologically Mongoloid features are weakly expressed or completely absent. The intermediate nature of the Newars strengthens their religion - among them there are both Hindus and Buddhists.

The official Nepalese publication "Cultural treasures of Nepal", released in 2009 by the Nepal Tourism Board, characterizes the Newars as follows:

"Newars are different high level development of their education, crafts and trade, and therefore are well known in the world. Newars have their own language, script and literature, are proud of their ancient heritage and cultural tradition. The Newars were the pioneers of what can be called urban culture in Nepal. It was the rich culture of the Newars that formed the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, as the cultural capital of the country. Newars, along with various ethnic groups of the country, starting from the peoples living in the high Himalayas, and to the ethnic groups living in the southern Terai (Terai are wet foothill valleys on the border with India. Note .. (As of 2001, 84.13% of Newars practiced both Hinduism and Buddhism and 15.31% - Buddhism.

Most

common languages ​​of Nepal

1. Nepali (khas)- 44.6% of the population of Nepal speak as native;

3. Bhojpuri- 6% of the population of Nepal;

4. Tharu- 5.8% of the population of Nepal;

5. Tamang (Tamang)- 5.1% of the population of Nepal;

6. Newari (Newari)- 3.2% of the population of Nepal;

Not more than 3% but not less than 1% of the population of Nepal: languages Magar, Rai , Awadhi, Limbu,Gurung;

(According to Nepalese census 2011 and Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal)

Website monitoring

The Cultural Treasures of Nepal edition describes the population of Nepal in general as follows, including mentioning the groups that we have already talked about a little higher:

“Nepal, with a population of over 25.8 million (2009), is a multicultural, multiracial, multilingual and multiethnic country. The population of Nepal has more than a hundred ethnic groups..

In Nepal, four ethno-cultural communities can be distinguished, according to their residence in the following geographical zones: the population of the high Himalayas, the population of the middle mountains, the population of the Kathmandu valley and the population of the southern plains, or the region of the foothills - terai (terai).

Although Nepalese are mostly Hindus, at the same time the same number of the population professes Buddhism”, writes the Nepalese edition, emphasizing the fact of the displacement of Hinduism and Buddhism by the believers of Nepal. At the same time, according to the publication of the Embassy of Nepal in London (2013), the religions of Nepal by the number of adherents are distributed as follows: 86.5% of the population of Nepal profess Hinduism, Buddhism - 7.8%, Islam - 3.5%, other religions - 2 .2%.

Note that before the fall of the monarchy in the country five years ago (2008), Nepal was called the last Hindu kingdom in the world, because the Shah royal dynasty was Hindu, and there were no more Hindu monarchs in the world.

Let's continue quoting from the publication "Treasures of Nepal Culture":

“Other religions in Nepal are Islam and Christianity.

The majority of Nepalese Hindus, namely the groups of Brahmins (brahmins), Chhetris (chhetris), Thakurs (thakuris) are of Indo-Aryan origin...

Scattered throughout the country, the ethno-cultural group of Brahmins was traditionally engaged in the performance of religious and social rites.

Unlike the Brahmins, the Chhetris and Thakurs were considered a class of warriors and political administrators. By virtue of their privileged status and position in the hierarchy of power in Nepal, they once owned large tracts of land throughout the country. Chhetri language - Nepali language is the lingua franca of Nepal…»

Hinduism, according to Vedam- ancient sacred Hindu texts, divides people into four estates - varnas(varnas, or varnas, from the Sanskrit word for “color”), namely: brahmins (priests), kshatriyas (warriors), vaishyas (farmers, cattle breeders and merchants) and sudras (artisans and workers). The latter is the lowest in its status. Later, the four varnas subdivided into many smaller groups of castes - jati. All castes are related to varnas, i.e. divided into more privileged and lower. Ethnocultural groups in Nepal are referred to as Jat(from kast-jati). In the characterization of Hindu ethno-cultural groups in Nepal, not only ethnic origin and language are taken into account, but also social origin and occupation (i.e. caste). So the Brahmins are distinguished into a separate group not by language, but by caste. In addition to the Brahmins, among other professional castes are those belonging to the lower caste of artisans (Shudras): damai(tailor), sarki(shoemaker), kami(blacksmith) and sunar(jeweler). The blacksmith caste (kami) ranks eighth among the largest population groups in Nepal (), numbering eight hundred thousand people. In the foothills, bordering with India, the Terai valleys, the population with Indian roots () is occupied mainly agriculture, but even there there are highly professional castes among them: majhi(fisherman), kumhal(potter), Danuwar(charioteer).

According to Nepal (1998), “the 1991 Nepalese census registered 60 Jats, which included both ethnic groups (nationalities) and caste groups.

Nationalities (there are 26 of them) include those groups of people who have their own language, special traditions and (most importantly!) At the same time do not have a division into castes. These ethnic groups make up 35.5% of the population. The proportion of Nepalese who belong to caste groups (there are 29) is higher - they are 56.2% of all residents. As one moves north, the significance of Hinduism and the Hindu caste system weakens. Therefore, the most caste groups are in the Terai - 20 out of 29, and ethnic - in Central Nepal 11 out of 26.

But back to the essay from the book "Treasures of the Culture of Nepal", concerning the population of Nepal:

Other ethnic groups of Nepal such as Sherpas, Thakalis, Dolpalis and Mustangis, from Tibetan mun tan - fertile valley. Note. site) - living in Northern Nepal, as well as living in the middle mountains and valleys of Newars (newars), tamangs (tamangs), rais (rais), limbus (limbus), survats (sunuwars), Magars (magars) and Gurungs (gurungs) have Tibeto-Mongoloid origin. Most Tibeto-Mongolians practice Buddhism", - writes the publication.

Note that Limbu and Rai are also known as Kirats. In general, it is customary to consider the most ancient inhabitants of Nepal, as the publication "Nepal" (1998) points out, precisely the peoples of the Tibetan-Burmese group.

Nepal Cultural Treasures Edition continues:

“There are also several other nationalities in the country that have long lived in Nepal. This is Tharu (Tharu (tharus), an Indo-European people. It is believed that she came to the foothills - Terai one of the first. This people professes Hinduism, Buddhism, the cult of ancestors and some of the Tharu - Islam. Note site), chepangi (chepangs, Tibetan- Mongolian people, numbering fifty thousand people. Engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture, in connection with which it wanders from place to place. Confesses both animism and Hinduism. Approx. Site), raute (rautes, the last nomadic Tibetan-Mongolian people in Nepal, consists of Monkey hunters and gatherers, this people, numbering only seven hundred people, profess animism, danwars (danwars), dhimal (dhimal), majhi (majhi), darais (darais), sattars (sattars) and bodes (bodes ).

The Nepalese official publication "Treasures of Culture of Nepal" does not mention that Nepalese Muslims are also singled out as a separate group of Nepal.

Muslims of Nepal(professing the Sunni direction in Islam) stand out in a separate group solely on religious grounds, belonging to different races and peoples. Nepal (1998) writes casually about Muslims in Nepal.

In more detail, it should be noted that the Muslims of Nepal are divided into lowland Muslims belonging to madhesi, and mountain Muslims churaute(churaute).

Actually, Madhesi (madhesi - from Sanskrit " middle country”) is for the most part a Hindu ethno-cultural community, or otherwise a people living in the foothill valleys - the Terai of Nepal. This community speaks languages ​​close to Hindi: Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, and to a lesser extent Urdu. However, part of the Madhesi profess Islam. In turn, Churaut Muslims are also people from India, but living in higher mountainous areas. For example, in the district of Gurkha. The Churautes have settled as artisans in the highlands of Nepal at the invitation of local rulers in recent centuries. The Muslims of Nepal also include people from the Indian historical region of Kashmir and some Tibetans who converted to Islam in Tibet and emigrated to Nepal, especially after the proclamation of the PRC in the 1950s. 90% of Muslims in Nepal live in the Terai foothills.

Even among the ethno-cultural groups of Nepal, but already according to the linguistic principle, Bengali speakers are distinguished, who may belong to different groups.

ten largest

ethno-cultural groups of the population of Nepal

1. Immigrants from India chhetri from the class of Kshatriya warriors ( native language Nepali (Khas) - ca. 3.5 million people (approx. 15% of the population);

2 . Immigrants from India Brahmins, from the class of priests (the native language of Nepali (Khas) - about 3 million people (about 12% of the population of Nepal);

3. Magars- OK. 1 million 700 thousand people (approx. 7% of the population of Nepal);

4 . The oldest people from India tharu- slightly less than 1.5 million people (approx. 6% of the population of Nepal);

5. Having Tibeto-Mongoloid origin tamangi- OK. 1 million 200 thousand people (or approx. 5% of the population of Nepal);

6. Having a Tibeto-Mongoloid origin, but belonging to a mixed racial Caucasian-Mongoloid type newars- OK. 1 million 200 thousand people (approx. 5% of the population of Nepal;

7. Muslims of Nepal(Muslims of Nepal (professing the Sunni direction in Islam) stand out in a separate group solely on religious grounds, belonging to different races and peoples) - approx. 1 million people (approx. 4% of the population of Nepal);

8. Natives of India from the caste of blacksmiths, called kami(kami belong to the low caste of sudras - i.e. artisans). It is the kami who are believed to be the creators of the famous daggers of the Gurks - "kukri". The Kami in Nepal number approx. 800 thousand people (approx. 4% of the country's population);

9. Having Tibeto-Mongoloid origin rai- OK. 700 thousand (approx. 3% of the population of Nepal)

10. Having Tibeto-Mongoloid origin gurungs(also approx. 700 thousand (approx. 3% of the population of Nepal)

Note that the Sherpas, which many people associate with Nepal, number only approx. 150 thousand people.

(Website prepared according to Nepal census data for 2001)

And now a little about the resettlement of the ethnic groups of Nepal:

Nepal Cultural Treasures reports on the subject:

“In the Nepalese midlands, we find Magars and Gurungs in its western part, Tamangs and Newars in the central midlands, and the Rai, Limbu and Survat ethnic groups in the east of the country. With the exception of the Newars, the ethnic groups mentioned in the previous sentence are considered excellent warriors. Not surprisingly, young Nepalese are recruited for service in the British and Indian army mainly from these ethnic groups. (Abroad, Nepalese soldiers from the Magars, Gurungs, Tamangs, Rai, Limbu and Survats are known as. Note site) At the same time, in Nepal, these ethnic groups are also engaged in agriculture ...

In the Himalayan region, in the far north of the country, live Sherpas, Dolpali, Baragaonli (baragaonli), Manangi (manangi) and Lopa (lopa, also known as Loba, live in the above-mentioned mun tan valley. Approx. Site)

Among all of them Sherpas have earned a reputation as the most skilled climbers in the world. capable of operating at high altitudes. The largest area of ​​residence of the Sherpas Solukhumbu (Solu Khumbu) is located at the foot of Mount Sagarmatha, i.e. Mount Everest. (In Nepal, Everest is called Sagarmatha, which means “Lord of the World.” The name of the same mountain in Tibetan is Chomolungma, which means “Mother Goddess of the World.” Approx. Site).

The above mentioned ethnic groups of the Himalayan north earn their living by contracting as porters and guides for climbing expeditions, as well as raising yaks and herding sheep. These peoples have a linguistic and cultural affinity with the Tibetans living further north. These ethnic groups are also commonly referred to as Bhotiya (bhote).

The Terai foothills in southern Nepal, on the border with India, are densely populated by Nepalese peoples who have come to these places since ancient times, namely: Tharu, Darais, Dhimal, Maidzhhi ... Many of them speak their own dialect. The Tharu are the original inhabitants of the Terai. and distributed throughout the region from east to west. The majority of the population living in the Eastern and Middle Terai speak the Maithili and Bhojpuri languages, while the Avadhi language is widely spoken in the Western Terai. The local population here has close family ties with neighboring India.” (All languages ​​listed in this paragraph refer to Indo-European, Indian languages. Approx. Site).

Along with the state language of Nepali, which the Chhetri conquerors brought to the country (which we talked about at the beginning of the review), and which is of Sanskrit origin and belongs to the Indo-European languages, In Nepal, two groups of languages ​​\u200b\u200bcan be distinguished - Indo-European and Tibeto-Burmese. Here is how Nepal (1998) characterizes the Nepali languages:

« The Nepali language uses the Devanagari script, which is common in India. Nepali is the native language for more than half of all residents of the country (as of 1998. According to the latest census of the population of Nepal in 2011, only 44.6% of the population of Nepal speak Nepali as their native language. Note site) and the most common language in 54 of the 75 districts countries (as of 1991). The second largest speaker in Nepal after Nepali is the (also related to India) Maithili language; it is common in the Terai and has a literary tradition.

Among the Tibeto-Burmese languages, the Newar language (Newari) stands out; an extensive literature has also been created on it.

The Newari language has its own script, although it began in Lately use the Indian Devanagari script. The Tibeto-Burman languages ​​include Magar, Gurung, Rai, Limbu, Sunwar, Tamang and others (unlike the Newar language, they have not been strongly influenced by Indo-European languages).

Parbatiya, as they call themselves) - the main population of Nepal. This people was formed as a result of mixing of many ethnic groups. Initially, the khas became its core. They arose as a result of the migration of Indo-speaking peoples (mainly Rajasthani) to the territory of Nepal and their mixing with local Tibeto-Burmese ethnic groups. In the 15th-16th centuries, the Khasas became the most numerous tribes. At that time, there were many disparate principalities on the territory of Nepal. The Khas-Mangar principality of Gorkha, ruled by Ram Shah (1605-1632), had the most advantageous position at that time. By 1769, during the reign of Prithvi Narayan Shah, they conquered Makvanpur, Kathmandu, Patan, Bhadgaon, and later the lands of the Kirats were also captured. Prithvi Narayan Shah became the king and founder of the current ruling dynasty of the state of Nepal. The capital was moved to the city of Kathmandu.

At the end of the 18th century, Great Britain, by signing the unequal Treaty of Segoul, took control foreign policy state of Nepal. In 1846, not without the help of the British, power in the country was seized by the feudal family of Rana. The kings of Nepal became only nominal monarchs. In fact, the management of the country was carried out by members of the Ran family. They occupied all the main government posts and passed them on by inheritance. In 1951, the rule of the Ran family was overthrown as a result of an armed uprising, and the power of the king was restored.

Almost half of the inhabitants of Nepal are Nepalis. They had a huge impact on the development of culture and art of this state. The language of the Nepalese - Nepali - serves to communicate between the various peoples inhabiting the state of Nepal.

Officially, Nepal is the only Hindu state. More than 80 percent of the population is Hindu. However, at every step you can meet Buddhist relics (All-seeing eye of the Buddha, stupas). Nepali prefer to worship both Shiva and Buddha so as not to quarrel with either god.

Nepali are very nice, spontaneous and emotional people. They always smile and fold their hands “namaste” in greeting. Nepali is rather short in stature, with characteristic Hindu facial features. India has had a great influence on Nepal, both culturally and socially. Numerous Hindus, including Brahmins, who feared Arab aggression and the introduction of Islam, moved here from India. These settlers, in turn, tried to preserve their culture.

The life of a Nepalese consists of a series of holidays and festivals (political and religious), which take up 200 days a year. Nepalese are very expressive and fanatically religious. During the festive processions, thousands of residents take to the streets and are in a state of euphoria. The everyday life of a Nepalese, on the contrary, is calm and devoid of fuss.

Nestled on the southern slopes of the mighty Himalayas, Nepal is an ethnically diverse country with a rich cultural heritage. In a small area of ​​Nepal, there are 29,000,000 million inhabitants, more than a hundred ethnic groups and subgroups, about 60 nationalities.
Nepal is divided into three main physical and geographical zones: 1) mountainous (Himalayas zone), 2) central (hilly area, including the Mahabharata mountain range),
3) flat swampy region (Terai and Shivalik (Sivalik) or Churia (Chure) hills).
On the plains of the south live mainly peoples of Indian origin, whose languages ​​belong to the Indo-Aryan language group. In the far north, there are Tibeto-Burman peoples whose languages ​​are related to Tibetan. On the territory between them, the ethnographic map resembles a colorful mosaic.
Nepalese have a sense of humor and patience. They are easy to cheer and hard to anger, yet they have a reputation for being fierce warriors, as evidenced by the famous Gurkish troops. Social taboos, especially among the Hindu castes, limited mixing between ethnic groups, which contributed to the preservation of their own traditions (customs).

Himalaya zone

The mountainous territory of the Himalayas is inhabited by courageous and hardy Mongoloid peoples, known in Nepal as Bhotya, who speak Tibeto-Burmese languages. As a rule, their main activity is agriculture and cattle breeding.

The Thakalis who settled in the Kali Gandaki River Valley (Mustang region) have always been known as good traders. Previously, they played an important role in the salt trade between the subcontinent and Tibet. Today they are actively involved in the commercial life of the country. Many thakalis maintain small farms as well as small inns, especially on the way to Jomsom. According to the 2001 census, thakali make up only 0.06% of the population of Nepal, of which 65% practice Buddhism, and 34% Hinduism. Thakalis are a strictly endogamous group, marrying only within their own ethnic group, in other words, thakalis only marry (to) thakalis. Known for their friendliness, hospitality, and cleanliness, thakali cherish their traditions, language, and culture.

Tamangs, who practice Buddhism, live mainly in the north of Kathmandu and constitute one of the small groups (5.6%) of the total population of the country.
The word "tamang" in translation from Tibetan means "horse" and "warrior", "ta" and "mang" respectively. It is believed that the tamangs are part of the fighting cavalry detachments of the Tibetan state, sent around 755 by King Trisong, and settled in Nepal. Many of the Tamangs have served in the Indian and British Gurkha regiments since the British Raj. They are known as good climbers and guides. Their main occupation in the countryside is agriculture and cattle breeding, in the cities - handicrafts and trade. Many "Tibetan" souvenirs, carpets and thangkas sold in Kathmandu are made by Tamangs.

Of the 120,000 Tibetans in exile scattered around the world, about 12,000 live in Nepal. Although the total number of Tibetan refugees living in Nepal is not high, they still have a serious impact on the country's economy. Owning many hotels and restaurants in Kathmandu, they maintain and develop tourism infrastructure - the main source of Nepal's foreign exchange earnings. The arrival of the Tibetans in the Kathmandu valley gave impetus to the revival of important Buddhist religious sites. Behind last years they founded many large Buddhist schools and monasteries.

Sherpas, who live in the highlands of eastern and central Nepal, are an ethnic group known for their endurance in harsh mountainous conditions. "Sherpa" literally from Tibetan means "man from the east". These nomadic shepherds from Eastern Tibet moved to the Solu Khumbu region (southwest of Mount Sagarmatha (Chomolungma or Everest)) 500 years ago, around 1530, building beautiful gompas (Tibetan Buddhist monasteries) there that adorn the steep slopes of the Nepalese mountains.
Sherpas are known to be excellent climbers. Sometimes the term Sherpa refers to local residents, as a rule, men employed as guides and porters (porters) on mountain expeditions (climbing and trekking), in particular to Sagarmatha.
The main religion of the Sherpas is Nyingmapa Buddhism. Nyingma is the oldest of the four branches of Tibetan Buddhism, closely related to the ancient Tibetan Bon religion.
Sherpas speak the Kangpo language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burmese language group. According to the 2001 census, 154,000 representatives of this nationality live in Nepal, of which 92.83% profess Buddhism, 6.26% Hinduism, 0.30% the Bon religion.

Central (inner) part of the country

Central hills of Nepal the best place for those who want to get acquainted with the rural life of the inhabitants of this country. In the east live the descendants of the Kirats - Rai and Limbu. In the central part, around the Kathmandu valley, Newars predominate, while the hills of Kali Gandaki (east of Pokhara) are inhabited by Gurungs and Magars. To the west, bakhuns and chhetris dominate.

Rai and Limbu

It is believed that the Kirats, whose descendants are Rai and Limbu, ruled the Kathmandu Valley in the 7th century BC. BC. up to 300 AD, when they were driven out. After which they moved to the steep hills of eastern Nepal from the Arun River valley to the border with Sikkim, where many live to this day. Others settled in the Terai and India. These peoples are distinguished by their Mongoloid facial features. In the past, skilled Himalayan hunter-warriors, today they are excellent soldiers representing the Gurkha troops. Many men carry large, curved kukuri knives, a traditional attribute of a Gurkish warrior.
The Rai, also known as the Khambu (inhabitants of the Khumbu region), are one of the ancient indigenous peoples inhabiting Nepal. They make up about 3% of the country's population. According to anthropological studies, kirats (rai) migrated to the territory of present-day Nepal from the east through the north of Burma and Assam. The rais do not have a system of castes or varnas, but some of them have adopted the status of kshatriyas. The traditional religion practiced by 70% of rais is the belief Kiranti(Kirati), based on the cult of veneration of ancestors and spirits, the rest of the people profess Hinduism. Rai's main occupation is agriculture. Many rai serve in the Nepalese army, as well as Indian and British Gurkha regiments. Rai women lavishly adorn themselves with silver and gold coins. Marriages are usually arranged by the parents, although bride kidnapping and love marriages have occurred in the past. The thirty-two dialects of the Kiranti language spoken by numerous groups and subgroups of the Rai people belong to the Tibeto-Burmese language family.
- the original inhabitants of Nepal, also related to the ancient kirats like the rai, make up 1.58% of the total population of Nepal. There is no caste system among the Limbu people. The main activity of Limbu is agriculture, as well as service in the Gurkha troops. According to the 2001 census, 86.29% of Limbu are Kiranti, the rest are Hindu. Weddings are arranged only within the community. The main entertainment of Limbu is the archery competition, which in ancient times was given great ritual significance. Limbu literally means "archer". Most likely, they are descendants of a clan of Kirat archers. A well-known tradition of this people, associated with celebrations and celebrations, is the drinking of a special beer known as tongba.

Newary (Neva)

According to the 2001 census, Newars, the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, make up 5.48% (1,245,232) of the Nepalese population, of which 84.13% are Hindus and 15.31% are Buddhists. The origin of this people is shrouded in mystery. Language newari differs from Nepali, Hindi and Tibetan and is one of the most difficult languages ​​to learn in the world. According to the existing belief, the Newars settled here after the waters of a large lake that once covered the valley left, and the land became habitable.
Newars are divided into numerous professional castes. They are excellent farmers, traders and artists. Known for their traditional painting, as well as woodwork, bronze and stonework, the Newars lead a communal religious life, preserving their unique traditions, including the worship of the Goddess Kumari and annual festival chariots. Caste women jyapu(farmers) wear black saris with a red border, while the men wear traditional trousers and a shirt with long cotton sashes around the waist.

This Tibeto-Burmese people, living in the area of ​​the Kali Gandaki River, around the mountainous the Annapurna Range, is 2.39% (686,000 thousand) of the total population of Nepal. In Nepal, Gurungs play a significant role in all areas of the country's development. Their traditional occupations were sheep herding, trade and agriculture. Living mainly on the slopes of the Himalayas, they grow rice, wheat, millet and potatoes on mountain terraces. In the XIX and early XX centuries. Gurungs served in Indian and British Gurkha regiments. For his military devotion while serving in british army they were awarded six Victoria Crosses (the highest military award in Great Britain). Today, the Gurungs also make up the bulk of the Gurkha regiments. According to the 2001 census, 69% of them profess Buddhism, about 29% Hinduism. However, the cult of veneration of ancestors and spirits, intertwined with Buddhist rituals, remains the traditional belief of the Gurungs. Gurung women wear nose rings called phuli and coral necklaces.

A large group of Tibeto-Burmese people living in many parts of central Nepal . Magars make up 7.14% (1,622,421) of the total population, 74.6% of whom are Hindus and 24.5% are Buddhists. This ethnic group is divided into seven clans, three of which consider themselves "pure" Magars, and four "half-blooded". Marriages among the Magars are allowed only between representatives of these clans, and pure ones cannot converge with half-blooded ones. In the past, the Magars fought on the side of Prithvi Narayan Shah, helping to unify Nepal. Their Palpa kingdom, based at Tansen, was one of the last to be annexed to a unified Nepal. Traditional occupation Magars are left with agriculture and service in the Gurk regiments. They also stand out as specialists in the field of medicine, education and government. services. Magars mostly live in two-story, thatched houses. Magar women adorn themselves with silver coins, necklaces and heavy earrings. Magar men do not wear jewelry except for earrings.

Bahoons and chhetris

The dominant Hindu caste groups of the Bahuns (Nepalese Brahmins) and Chhetris (Nepalese Kshatriyas) make up about 30% of the country's population. All of them are descendants of the Khases. Khasas(khasas, khasiyas), living in the mountainous regions at the southern foot of the Himalayas, belong to the Indo-Aryan tribes that settled in the vast expanses of the western, central and eastern Himalayas (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, northern Bengal, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan) in II millennium BC According to scientists, the Khasas are the descendants of ancient people- Cambodians who lived in northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and southern Tajikistan, and then migrated to the southeast. Separate Cambodian tribes advanced up to the territory of modern Laos and Vietnam, later founding the Khmer state (modern Cambodia) with the capital angkor. In the basins of the rivers Karnali, Bheri and Kali Gandaki, the Khasas were engaged in the cultivation of rice.
Although caste system was formally abolished in 1963, these two groups remain at the top of the castes in the caste hierarchy.
Bahuns and chhetris played an important role in the court and in the army of Prithvi Narayan Shah, and after the unification of Nepal they were endowed with lands. Since then, these caste groups have dominated the government of Kathmandu, holding over 80% of the government. employees. According to the 2001 census, Bahoons make up 12.74% of the total population of Nepal.
Bahuns practice Hinduism. Most of them are teachers, scientists and clerics. Striving for caste purity, to a greater extent than other Nepalese Hindus, they arrange weddings only within the caste. Many of them are vegetarians and do not drink alcohol. Bahuns speak languages ​​belonging to the Indo-Aryan language group.
Chhetri is a warrior caste that makes up 15.8% of the total population of the country and professes Hinduism. They played an important role in the history of the region, creating many independent ruling dynasties. Now many people from these castes, living outside the Kathmandu Valley, are engaged in agriculture (farming) and outwardly differ little from the rest of the inhabitants.

Thakuri

Thakuri is one of the many castes of Pahari Rajputs (Pahari Rajput) who came to Nepal from Kashmir.
In the 11th-12th centuries, some of them accepted the teachings of Guru Gorakhnath (Gorakshanath), the founder of the religious and philosophical school "Nath Yoga" and the order of Kanphats and Darshani, who preached in the city of Gorakpur (India, Uttar Pradesh, 95 km from the Indian-Nepalese boundaries). Since then, the name Gurkha (Gurkha, Gorkha, Gorkha) has been attached to them, i.e. followers of the teachings of Gorakhnath. Distinctive features Gurkhas are militancy, courage, devotion, self-sufficiency, physical strength, aggressiveness in combat and endurance.

Terai zone

Terai means "wet land" in Hindi. The swampy plains at the foot of the Himalayas (Terai) are a motley mosaic of meadows and evergreen moist deciduous forests.

Tharu are inhabitants of the Terai, most of whom have Mongoloid facial features. Tharu are the largest ethnic group Terai region, comprising 6.75% of the population of Nepal.
Living in villages near dense swampy jungles and isolated for millennia, they have developed their own unique culture. The origin of this nation is not fully understood. It is believed that the Tharu were descendants of the Rajputs (from Rajasthan), who in the 16th century. sent their women and children away from the Mughal conquerors. Others believe that they come from the royal family of Shakya - the family in which the Buddha (Shakyamuni) was born. The Tharu traditionally lived in thatched huts. Their main activities are agriculture and trade. The majority of Tharu are Hindus, only about 2% are Buddhists. Their beliefs also include the worship of forest spirits and ancestral deities. The Tharu do not have their own language. Living in the northwestern parts of Nepal adjacent to India, the Tharu speak the language urdu, belonging to the Indo-Aryan language group, in the western part - on avadhi, also belonging to the Indo-Aryan language group. The Tharu, who live in the central part, speak the language bhojpuri(Indo-Aryan language group), and in the eastern Maithili(Indo-Aryan language group).