Religion, Festival, Birth, death Marriage and

Introduction:
Actually we all know what the meaning of religion, festival, birth, marriage and death. It is not a new name for us. We are very close to these social aspects after all we are the social animals and the superior living creatures in the whole world. As Nepal is multi-religion, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-racial country, thousands of people with their culture tradition lives here so Prithvi Narayan Shah had said it is a common garden of 4 caste and 36 sub-castes. When we are born in this society we are bounded by these social aspects.

Religion:
In Nepal, religion is not just a set of beliefs and accompanying rituals handed down from generation to generation; rather it is a complex intermingling of traditions, festivals, faiths and doctrines that have permeated every strata of Nepalese Society in such a way as to become the very heartbeat of the nation. Nepal is famous, as the world's only Hindu Kingdom. However, it is an intricate and beautiful tapestry formed by the interweaving of Hinduism, Buddhism and other beliefs. Religious tolerance and harmony such as is found in Nepal, is perhaps a unique example to the world. As Nepal is not a Hindu kingdom anymore because Hindu people doesnt lives here. We can find people of different religion also. Buddhism, Christianity, Muslim people also we can find here. Even it is the birth place of Lord Gautam Buddha major people are following Hinduism. It is not a country belonging to one religion only; it is a country belonging to all Nepalese people after all we are the son and daughter of Bir Gorkhali. Nepal is only the country in the world where there is no war and conflict regarding about religion. The people of different religion people are staying under harmony and taking part in every religion. According to the census of 2068

The main religions of Nepal are as follows:

Hinduism :

Hinduism has a basic trinity of three gods-Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. Most Hindus, while revering Brahma, do not usually include his worship in religious ceremonies as his role in the universe is regarded to be essentially completed. Vishnu and Shiva, however, are very important to all the Nepalese Hindus. Vishnu, whose form and the Lingam form, the latter being the most famous Lingam is situated in the north-west of Katmandu. In front of any Shiva temple, one usually sees a statue of Nandi, the divine bull that serves as Shiva's vehicle. Even though the Nepalese Hindus people celebrate a number of festivals in a year as Hinduism is the major religion of Nepal. According to the census of 2068 about % of the Nepalese people identified themselves as Hindus.

Major Festivals celebrate by the Hindus of Nepal:

Mata Tirtha Snan (Mother's Day) Buddha Jayanti Ghanta Karna Chaturdasi Janai Purnima,Rakshya Bandhan,Khumbeshwor Mela Patan Gaijatra Shree Krishna Janmastami Gokarna Aunsi (Father's Day) Teej Ko Darkhane Din Indrajatra(Holiday Only in Kathmandu) Dashain Holidays Tihar Holidays Maghe Sankranti Shree Panchami Maha Shiva Ratri Fagun Purnima (Holi) Ghode Jatra Shree Ram Nawami Bagh Jatra Bhairav Kumari Jatra Chaite Dasain Gaura Parva Gunla Guru Purnima Rato Macchendranath Jatra Mani Rimdu Mata-yaa Neel Barahi Pyakhan Rath Yatra Sita Vivaha Panchami Tamu Dhee Tansen Jatra Taya Macha Yomari Punhi

Buddhism:

The founder of Buddhism is Prince Siddhartha Gautam who was born in Lumbini in the southern Terai region of the country in about 543 B.C. For many years, Gautam wandered from place to place looking for a solution to the problems he saw all around him. Finally, while meditating under a Pipal tree, he became spiritually enlightened. Henceforth known as Lord Buddha Buddha journeyed from place to place, teaching and converting hundreds of followers and died at the age of eighty.

Buddhist influences are evident in the culture of Nepal because Buddha was born in Nepal. It has strong Buddhist background and has played role in spread of Buddhism to Tibet. Nepalese princess Bhrikuti played a significant role in development of Buddhism in Tibet and Far East. Tibetan Buddhist architecture has long been influenced by Nepalese artists and sculptors like Araniko. The sacred Buddhist texts in Mahayana Buddhism are mainly written in Ranjana script (the script of Newars) or scripts like Lantsa which are derived from Ranjana.
Ethnic groups that live in central Nepal, such as Gurung, Lepcha, Tamang, Magar, Newar, Yakkha, Thami, Chhantyal and Chepang, are also followers of Buddhism In traditional Nepalese Buddhism, there are nine special texts which are called the "Nine Dharma Jewels", and these are considered the nine books of Buddhism par excellence:

Aasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra Gaavyuha Sutra Dasabhumika Sutra Samadhiraja Sutra Lankavatara Sutra Saddharma Puarika Sutra Tathagataguhya Sutra Lalitavistara Sutra Suvaraprabhasa Sutra

Christianity:

Protestant Christians came to Nepal primarily through the Nepalese who were living outside of Nepal during and prior to the Rana Regime. After the collapse of Ranas rule in Nepal

in 1950, Nepali Christians living in India came in and along with them some western missionaries also came in. United Mission to Nepal, International Nepal Fellowship and others are a few earliest western mission agencies that came in and brought the Protestant influence. Till today, according to the government data, Protestantism accounts for about 0.45% of the population, but the unofficial number of Christians, including Catholics is between 7 hundred thousand to a million.

Muslim:

Nepali Muslims, while they are mainly Sunni, constitute a heterogeneous group. Their ancestors arrived in Nepal from different parts of South Asia and Tibet during different epochs, and have since lived amidst the numerically dominant Hindus. About 97% of the Muslim communities live in the Terai region, while the other 3% are found mainly in the city of Kathmandu and the western hills.

Muslims have lived Nepal for long period of time and have shared common historical experiences with the Hindu majority, and as such have developed a stronger identification with the Nepali state. Islam is a minority religion in Nepal.

Festival
If the people are following religion than they will celebrate festival also. A number of festivals are celebrated in Nepal during a year which has some purpose on spiritual values. Festivals are the means to unite people in Nepal. Nepal is rich in festivals because different categories people lives here: Rai, Limbu, Newar, Brahmin, Chhetri and so on. Different caste people perform the festivals in its own and unique ways. There is one saying in Newari, There is seldom a month when newar festival doesnt take place. Maybe it is true because in newar community there is a festival in every month once or twice. . No matter in which season you visit Nepal you will have opportunity to enjoy festival. Likewise in other community there are also a lot of festivals. Here the festivals are celebrated at birth, marriage and even in death also. And also on different occasion. The following festivals listed under different months indicate how often Nepalese celebrate their festivals.

Maghe Sankranti (January):

Maghe Sankranti is a festival to celebrate the waning of winter. Early in the morning, worshippers go to the Ghat (bathing area of holy Rivers) and clean themselves. They take flowers, red and allow vermilion power and laddus, special sweets of sesame seeds and give them to local deities and important God like Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. Those who do not take their morning baths on this day, legends say, will be re-born as goats. After visiting the river side and Shrines, the family gets together and enjoys special feasts of Chaku Sugarcane paste, yam and ghee butter.

Sweta Machhendranath (January)

Sweta (white) Machhendranath enjoys a week-long festival in which he is bathed, oiled, perfumed, and painted. The Goddess Kumari visits him at his elaborate temple near Asan . If he is pleased by the music, offerings, and attentions of his devotees, the people of the Valley can look forward to satisfactory rainfall in the planting season. Swasthani Puja(January - February)

She is the ultimate gift grantor; if insulted, she can make life miserable. By worshipping Swasthani, Parbati attained Lord Shiva as her husband. In the worship rites of Goddess Swasthani, outlined by Parbati, the Swasthani scripture is read every evening for a month. Worshipping Swasthani will bring together parted relations, remove curses, and result in limitless gifts.

Shri Panchami (February)

This day is dedicated to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom. On this day there is a gathering at her shrine at Swyambhu, Saraswoti Khel,Pashupatinath and at Kathmandu Durbar Square Students believe that a visit to the goddess shrine on this day will ensure that their examination are good and whatever they study will be easy to remember. Musicians take their instruments and artisans take their tools to the feet of the goddess so they, too, can receive her blessings. This is the first day of spring. The day is also considered on of the best in the year on to get wedded.

Maha Shivaratri (February):

This is the greatest festivals of Hindus in the honor of Lord Shiva the God of Regenerations. A great religious fair takes place in the Pashupatinath Temple and thousands of people from all over Nepal and India flock the temple to worship Lord Shiva. Many pilgrims and worshipers spend whole night lighting sacred fires, singing praises of Lord Shiva and keeping vigil to welcome the descent of the deity. Early next morning, the faithful take a sacred dip in the Bagmati River to purify their bodies and souls. Then they fetch holy water in their cupped palms to offer it to the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva enshrined in the innermost sanctum of the temple. People visit the temple throughout the day with offering of rice, vermilion, fruits, flowers and coins.

Lhosar (February):

Sherpas and Tibetans welcome their New Year with feasts, family visits and dancing. Families put on their finest clothes and jewelers and exchange gifts. Buddhist monks offer prayers for good health and prosperity, and perform dances at the monasteries. Colorful prayer flags decorate streets and rooftops; the colors seem especially brilliant at the Buddha and Swayambhu stupas. Crowds of celebrants at Bouddha bring in the New Year by throwing tsampa (roasted barley flour) into the air.

Fagu Purnima /Holi (March):

It is the national festival which has its origins in the religious cultural traditions of Hindu religion, It is celebrated throwing colored water at each other in remembrance of happy demise of wicked demines holika. In Kathmandu, ceremonial pole decorated with strips of colored cloth is raised in front of the Kumari Chwok at Durbar Square to announce the beginning of festival. On the fullmoon day the, last day of the festival people can be seen roaming the city, petting water filled balloons and throwing colored powder to the peoples. The ceremonial pole is pulled down to finish the festival.

Chaitra Dasain (March-April):

Chaitra Dashain is also called a small dashain in contrast to October's big Dashain. This festival is similar in many respects and many goats and buffaloes are sacrificed to the goddess durga at the

kot square'. Red vermillion powder, family blessings, and goat and duck sacrifices are essential to praise the victory of Ram, hero of the epic Ramayana, over the evil king Rawan. Mother Goddess Durga, the source of all power, must be supplicated too for her powers that helped Ram achieve his victory.

Ghode Jatra (April):

Visitors are often amazed by the fine horses of the Nepalese army, and Ghode Jatra is a time for the most graceful of these animals to perform before the public eye. Legends relate that this "horse festival" was begun after the Kathmandu people buried a demon under the soil of Tundikhel showground. They say that he may rise again and cause worry to the world if he is not trampled on by horses each year. So every spring, this victory over evil is celebrated in the Valley by organizing palanquin processions and grand display of show jumping, motorcycling feats, and gymnastics.

Bisket Jatra (April):

During this important festival, the old kingdom of Bhaktapur and its neighboring areas replay a drama passed on over the centuries. At Bode village, there is a tongue-boring ceremony in which the dedicated may reserve a place in heaven. A wooden pillar is erected in the evening on the first day of this festival. On the second day which is also the first day of Nepali New Year, a chariot is pulled from the pillar to the temple of Bhairavnath in the same square as the five-storey Nyatapolo pagoda. The pillar is shaken violently in the evening and then lowered with the great rejoicing. The chariots of Ganesh, goddess Mahakali and goddess MahaLaxmi are carried on the shoulders of the devotees. New Year's Day (Nava Barsha) (April): The Bikram Era is Nepal's official calendar. This solar calendar was started by King Bikramditya. The New Year 2057 of the Bikram Era corresponds to 2000-2001 of the Christan Era. New Year's Day is an official holiday. Devotees visit the Pashupati temple to take a dip in the holy Bagmati river.Pilgrims also visit other religious spots and spend the day at picnic spot. It is a day to seek blessings from family priest and one's elders as well.

Rato Macchindranath Jatra (May):

The festival of Red Macchindranath takes place in Patan over a period of two months and is one of the complex festivals. A chariot bearing the image of Macchindranath, valued by both Hindus and Buddhists moves in a series of daily stages through the streets of patan during this festival. Patan's streets and palace complex are made even more evocative by wavering lamp and candle lights; women busy cooking feasts, and men gathering strength to pull the chariot of their red deity. As Lord Machhindranath views his followers from the high seat of his chariot, its four wheels representing the powerful Bhairab - receive rice and vermilion powder, the king of serpents is asked for blessings, and his jeweled vest is shown to the public.

Buddha Jayanti (May):

Nepal is birth place of Buddha. This festival is celebrated to mark the birth day of Lord Buddha. On May 6, a full moon day, the Lord's birth, enlightenment, and salvation are applauded throughout the valley with celebrations. Swayambhu and Boudhanath Stupas are prepared for the oncoming festivities several days in advance. Monasteries are cleaned, statues are polished, bright prayer flags waft in the breeze, and monks prepare to dance. On the Jayanti day, people reach the Stupas before dawn, go around them and give offerings to the many Buddha images there. Also, pilgrims take a long journey to the birth place of Buddha that is Lumbini on this day. Lumbini is situated at the western part of Nepal.

Krishnastami (July-August):

It marks the birthday of Lord Krishna, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The best place to watch the celebrations of Krishna's birthday is at the Krishna temple at Patan and Changu Narayan. Sacred devotional music is played all night. Go early in the evening.

Janai Purnima and Raksha Bandhan (August):

All high caste Hindus wear a sacred thread over their left shoulder and tied under their right armpit. On this day, each year the sacred thread is replaced after a daylong fast. And also the priest put sacred janai or holy thread around the wrist of Hindu people. On this day, especially Newar people prepare special dish on their homes. That dish is known as 'Kwanti'. Kwanti is prepared with nine different types of beans. Kumbheswore temple in Patan and holy Lake of Gosaikunda are important places for this festival where people take holy dips.

Naag Panchami (August):

Images of the serpent 'Naga' are stuck over the doors of house during the festivals of snakes. Since snakes are believed to have power over the monsoon rainfall, it is important that they are appeased. Their image also keeps evil from entering the home.

Gai Jatra (August):

Satire, jokes, fancy costumes, and colorful processions are the order of the day as people recall how an eighteenth century king rallied his people to cheer his queen upon the death of their son. Those who have experienced the death of close ones during the past year share their sorrow and fake comfort in the fact that the Gai (Cow) has safely transported the departed souls on their afterlife journey. Young men wearing women's saris, children `dressed up as cows and whimsical characters of all sorts fill the streets. Special issues of local magazines poke fun at everyone and everything - even the most important people aren't spared.

Teej (September):

This is a special festival for women and all married women are supposed to fast all day bathe in the holy rivers, lakes. The entrance to Pashupatinath is a good place to watch as crowds of women, dressed in brightly colored saris with red marks on their foreheads, come down to river. This unique women's festival is marked by fasting, folk songs, and dancing as the women recall Parbati's devotion to her husband Shiva. Married women visit their fathers' homes. It's a loud and cheerful celebration until late at night, when strict fasting discontinues. It is believed that their married life will be long and happy and they will not lose their husbands if they celebrate this festival. Unmarried women who fast on this day will have good luck in finding suitable husband. The blessings of Shiva and Parbati ensure that family life will be joyous for all.

Indra Jatra (September):

The Indra festival is celebrated in honour of the ancient Aryan God Indra, King of heaven and controller of the rains. The living goddess Kumari is taken in procession through the streets of Kathmandu and the king receives blessings from her. For eight days, Kathmandu's Durbar Square is the focus of a great celebration fit to "flatter the King of Heaven". Indra's dhwaj or flag is erected on the first day. It is said that many centuries ago, Indra's mother needed specially scented flowers but could not find them in heaven's gardens. Indra discovered parijat flowers in the Kathmandu Valley and tried to steal them for his mother. He was caught and imprisoned by the Valley people. When Indra's mother came searching for him the people were appalled by what they had done. They released Indra and dedicated one of the most colorful festivals of Nepal to him to appease his anger. Masks and statues representing Vishnu, Bhairab, and Shiva are shown to the public and the Goddess Kumari witnesses the special occasion from her chariot. Indra is thanked for the rains and assured once again that he is respected in the Kathmandu Valley.

Dashain (October)

This is the biggest and the longest festival in Nepal and lasts 15 days in all although the main festivities are concentrated in nine days during which all schools and government offices are closed. The skies of Kathmandu are filled with kites and the marketplaces are filled with farmers bringing their buffaloes, goats and chicken to sell. The first day is Ghatasthapana. On the seventh day called "Fullpati. On the ninth day, goats and buffaloes are sacrificed around noon in the courtyard called 'Kot' behind Durbar Square and a stream of blood flows. Similar sacrifices are made in the temples of goddesses through the country to celebrate her victory over evil. The tenth day, Bijaya Dashami is the highlight of the festival and all Hindus and many Buddhists go to the relatives and elders in order to receive a Tika', which is rice immersed in a curd with red pigment color placed on their forehead. In the following days of Dasain, families and friends unite, feasts are consumed, blessings are imparted and gifts are exchanged. Nepal's most beloved festival ends with the full moon. Dashain is not only the biggest festival but a happy one because the weather is perfect.

Dipawali /Tihar (October)

The third and fifth days are most important of this five-day festival. In western India it is the biggest Hindu festival and in Nepal it is second only to Dashain On the first day crows, the messengers of death, are honored and fed. The second day is in honor of dogs, the guardians of the dead and the mount of Bhairab. The third day is set aside for cows as the incarnation of Laxmi. The goddess of wealth. This day is called Deepavali, the festival of lights, and all the households of Kathmandu are illuminated by lamps to the Goddess of Wealth. This festival always falls on a new moon so the effect is particularly delightful. It is said that the Goddess Laxmi will shun any household not illuminated on this day, which is also an occasion for gambling. The fourth day is also a new year for Newars. In this day people worship their own body or soul. And families get together to celebrate this occasion. The fifth day of the festival is Bhai Tika and is meant especially for brothers and sisters who are supposed to get together on this day. On this day sisters place tikas on their brother's forehead to protect them from evil. And sisters also bless them for longer life. In return, brothers make generous gifts to their sisters.

Bala Chaturdasi (December):

This simple, festive day takes place in the entire nation's temple. Families who have lost a loved one in the last year keep an all-night vigil in the forest, lighting oil lamps and singing songs. Following a ritual morning bath, people walk through the forest, scattering seven types of grain along the paths and over the linga of Lord Shiva to give merit to their late kinsmen and to cleanse the sins of a mythological man called Bala who had been transformed into a demon.

Bibah Panchami (December):

Every year the idols of Ram and Sita are brought out in procession and their Hindu wedding ceremony is re-enacted during a week-long religious fair. Bibah Panchami reflects the devotion of Hindus to Ram, perhaps the most popular among the incarnations of Vishnu, and to Sita, the model of the ideal Hindu woman. All the people of the Hindu world know the story of the marriage of their hero Ram and the princess Sita, as told in the epic Ramayana. King Janak, Sita's father, proposed a test of strength for the suitors of his daughter: to string the great bow of Lord Shiva. Warriors, kings and chieftains came from afar, but no man could even lift the bow. Ram lifted the bow with ease and when he tried to string it, the bow shattered into pieces. Ram and Sita were married in Janakpur, now in southern Nepal, and their marriage is celebrated to this day.

Birth
When a baby is born in a society he/she is surrounded by some boundary and the baby is under some kind of social religion. His/her parents/relatives rituals him/her under their ways i.e. according to his/her religion, tradition, caste and so on. There is some holy procedures which are performed when a baby is born. Traditionally, there are little differences among the Nepalese in performing a rite after a baby is born. In a family of the Chhetri and Brahman, when a baby is born, nwaran (naming and purification) ceremony is performed on the fifth day for a girl baby and on the 7th, 9th or 11th day for a baby boy. A priest or Bahun performs this ceremony. Pasni (feeding rice) ceremony is done on the sixth or fifth month for son and daughter respectively. When the boy reaches the sixth year it is time for Chhewar (tonsure) ceremony. Bhujel, Kami, Damai and Sarki also perform similar ceremonies. The Thakuris is the only clan, among the Nepalese, who perform their customary rites facing the west. Thakuris perform nwaran on the six-day and Pasni or Bhatkhwai (rice feeding) ceremony on the sixth and the eight-month respectively for son and daughter. Thakuris instead of engaging a priest prefer to feed a baby through the hands of the eldest family members. This ceremony is also known as Panch-gans (five courses) since the feeder feeds the baby rice and milk five times. Chhewar (tonsure), according to Thakuri custom, is done between the eighth and twelfth year. Among the Newars, when the first baby is born to a Newari parent, they perform machabubyakegu (purification) ceremony on the fifth or sixth day. For every new baby, this ceremony is performed on the third day. Machajunko (rice feeding) ceremony is held within sixth to seven months for a son and within five to seven months for a daughter. When a baby is born in a Rai family, like other communities, they too perform hangchhananglotma (naming) ceremony on the sixth day in case of a son and on the fifth day in case of a daughter. This ceremony is performed by their community priest- Bijuwa or Jhakri. Fedengma or Feden gba is the main priest of the Limbu clan. Customary rites of the Limbus, who are also known as Subba, Tsong and Yakthumba, start from the sixth month of the pregnancy of the mother known as Sapok-Chomen. The fourth and the third day, respectively for a boy and a girl, after birth is the day for Yangdangfoma (naming). When the boy baby becomes six months old and the girl five months old they are fed with the solid food Taksi. It is nalingken thangben, for boys and sisaken-menchhin, for girls, through which their adulthood is declared. The Tamangs, basically Buddhists, perform thapsang (naming ceremony on the third or on the eleventh day, as convenient to the family. A Lama reads Chhoi (holy books) and names the bay. Same families use the services of a Banbo (community priest) for this purpose. When the new born son reaches the sixth month or the daughter reaches the fifth month they perform Kankwaba, feeding ceremony. They also perform tapche (tonsure) ceremony, according to the family's convenience between the third and the seventh year after the baby's birth.

The Thami, another sub-community of the Nepalis, after performing nwaran does not perform any other ceremony for a new born baby till his or her marriage on attaining adulthood. The Sherpas perform simple rites at the time of the birth of child. The Lama fixes the day for the naming and purification ceremony. They serve chhyang (local rice beer) and rotis (breads) to relatives and friends present on the occasion. The Lepchas accept the birth of a child only on the third day after the birth. The boongthing, on the third day, performs tungbaong-fat (naming and purification) ceremony (Liwang, 2000:2325).

Birth rate: (Birth/1000)

Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Nepal 33.83 33.4 32.94 32.46 31.96 31.45 30.98 30.46 29.92 23.18 22.43 22.17

Population growth rate:

Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Nepal 2.34 2.32 2.29 2.26 2.23 2.2 2.17 2.13 2.1 1.28 1.42 1.6

Marriage
When a baby is matured than the marriage procedure occurs. Marriages also differ from community to community because of its tradition, culture, castes and so on. In Gurung community the boys and girls of same categories are not allowed to marry but they are allowed to get marry to the another categories of Gurung communities. Categories mean like Tamu and Ghalle, even though Tamu and Ghalle both are the categories of Gurung. The boy and girls of Tamu to Tamu and Ghalle to Ghalle are not allowed to marry but Tamu to Ghalle and Ghalle to Tamu are allowed. In Gurung communities the boys and girls are allowed to marry to the daughter or son of their aunt (Fathers sister) but in another community it is not allowed and nor there is the system of these. In Brahmin and Chettri communities the boy should be done Bratabanda before marry and like in the system in Gurung communities it is totally different in Brahmin and Chettri communities.

The boy and girls can marry to their own category but they are not allowed to marry the daughter and son of their aunt. In Newar communities the boys must perform bratabanda and girls must perform e (bellbibaha) and guffa before the marriage. The system of marriage between Gurung and Newar communities vice-versa.

Death
In Nepal, a death anniversary is known as Shraddha. Shraddha means to give with devotion or to offer one's respect. Shraadh is a ritual for expressing one's respectful feelings for the ancestors Shraddha is a private ceremony performed by the family members of the departed soul.

Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)

Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Nepal 10.41 10.22 10.03 9.84 9.66 9.47 9.31 9.14 8.97 6.97 6.89 6.81