Inhabitants
Kathmandu basin and lowlands lying below it are the most densely populated areas. The Sherpas are probably the most famous nation in Nepal. They came here 500 years ago. In the Tibetan language a sherpa means "a man from the east". Originally, they were nomads and they took care of their herds of yaks. In 19th century it changed. They were obviously influenced by the arrival of the English. The English brought potatoes and the Sherpas found out that they could grow them even in high altitudes. This was the beginning of village foundation. Nowadays the Sherpas work in agriculture. They breed cattle and they also started to use advantages of tourism several years ago. It is well-known that they are very altuistic and faithful. Their religion is Buddhism.
People of Nepal
The Dolpo people live behind mountains in the north from Dhaulagiri.They specialize in trade between Nepal and Tibet.
They especially deal in salt. The Tamangs live in the central height. A tamang means" a tradesman with horses" in the Tibetan language and they probably came from Tibet. They farm in Kathmandu basin. Some of them have moved into the capitol where they work as porters or they drive rickshaws. They practise Tibetan Buddhism and they celebrate feasts together with the Hindus. The next no less interested groups are the Rais and Limbus people. They live in the east of the country and they are celebrated for their bravery. For this reason they are recruited to the Indian and British armies. They appreciate deity of nature and ghosts of their ancestors. They have their own wizards. They sacrifice domestic animals because of ritual reasons. The dead are buried under the ground which is not common in this area. The Rais speak more than 300 languages. The Gurungs live in hillsides of Annapurna. If they do not serve in army, they breed sheep.
They also have their own wizards who cure or reconcile evil ghosts. The Magars live in the west of Nepal. They fish, weave, and some of them serve in army. They believe in Buddhism and Hinduism. The Newars have become celebrated for their mastery in woodcut, ironmongery, and architecture. They have been living in Kathmandu basin for thousands of years. During this time they have developed their skills and craft. Castes system has helped their uniqueness. It determines the position in the society. The Newars do not carry loads hanging up on their heads as the others, but they use scale beams. The Brahmans and Chhetris have strong dominance in all social, religious, and political areas. There are also some occupational castes, namely: the Damai (tailor), Sarki (cobbler), Kami (blacksmith), and Sunar (goldsmiths). Although there exist numerous dialects, the unified language is the national language-Nepali. The main ethnic groups in terai are the Tharus, Darai, Kumhal, Majhi, and other groups that have roots in I
ndia. They speak north Indian dialects such as Maithili or Bhojpuri. Most inhabitants live on agriculture, because there are very fertile plains in terai. However, there are some occupational castes such as Majhi (fisherman), Kumhal (potter), and Danuwar (cart driver). It is necessary to mention a man from rocks-Yeti. People living in Tibet have seen big strange figures. The first one who took a picture of Yeti's imprint was the climber Eric Shipton. The Sherpas belive in Yeti, but sceptics say it is a myth. Many researches have been done, even Edmund Hillary was looking for some evidence. Language composition is also very rich.
Namaste
All people have the common language-Nepali. It is spread all over the country. Nepalese cuisine is healthy and tasty, but monotonous. When they eat, they use only three fingers of the right hand. More than 3 fingers are not acceptable. The most famous and the national meal at the same time is dhal bhat. Dhal is boiled rice and bhat is lentil soup. A host adds meal until a guest is full. This custom has its roots in Hindu belief. Dhal bhat can be also served with poultry meat. Poor people eat dhal bhat twice a day all the life. The meal is served on a simple metal plate or in a bowl. Spice is added almost to every meal. The more spice the better. The most popular spice is curry powder, masala or chilli. Meat is considered to be a luxury.
You can meet with the most popular Tibetan meal Momos in the mountains. It can be boiled or fried. It is filled with some vegetables or meat and served with various sauces. Soup thukpa is also very popular. It consists of pasta, potatoes, and vegetables. Bread and chappati are baked on a Nepalese cook stove. If we add potatoes to the list, we have a complete mountainous menu. A way of greeting is "Namaste" meaning " I welcome a god in you".
Wrote by: Martin Uhlir
Translated by: Jana Uhlirova
Photos: Martin Uhlir
