Few things about Nepal !
Hi Friends,
Thank you very much for all your comments . Its really a very nice experience to get comments from all over the world. On 4th of Aug,08 I received 25 comments from 18 different countries.
I tried to plot them on world map just to have a quick idea where we belong to. Dear friends and my respected teacher are you searching for yourself in the map ? I think I haven’t left any of you . By plotting this points I came to know at least my friends location in the world map.
Nepal is a landlocked country situated between Mahachin (Big China) and Maha Bharat ( Big India). It is renowned as the birth place of Lord Budda and contains 8 of world’s 10 highest peaks including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively. Its altitude varies from 70 to 8848 meters. It has population around 28 million with different culture and languages. Around 199 languages are spoken here in Nepal. Nepali is a common Language. Geographically it is divided into three sectors tarai (plain), pahad (hill) and himal (mountain). Tarai is influenced by Indian culture and Himal is influenced by Tibetian culture.
Some of you were asking about changes in Nepal. Yes there has been a change. Just like everything and everybody changes a little everyday, Nepal has also changed. Before the ruling power was in hand of king, so it was a kingdom. Now it has become republican country. First president of Nepal was elected in 21 July 2008. Nepali people are patiently waiting for new constitution in this 21st century with political stability as well. We are really very much enthusiastic about new Nepal.
Development wise it is a least developed country. Purchasing Power Parity of Nepal in International dollars is 1040 (2007). Rank wise it is in 190th position. Per capita income is 210 $. Given the high population growth rate of 2.5 percent, per capita income grew by only 1.4 percent per annum during the last 25 years.
(Source - click here)
In waterresources it is second after Brazil. But i feel same to say that we have become able to generate only 616 MW of electricity from hydropower. 80 % of Population still lives in rural area. Some of you will be surprised by knowing that 60 % of population still lives in dark.
That means no electricity at all. They are using kerosene to light the lamps. The cooking fuel is wood, twigs and biomass in rural area and in urban area its mostly Kerosene, LPG gas and electricity.
Amy from your previous blogs I knew that you were in Delhi. I was so excited when I saw the picture of Bhaktapur in your blog. The place where you have been is called Bhaktapur Durbar Square. We have other two similar types of Durbar squares in Lalitpur and Kathmandu.
I think Amy you will recognize this photo it’s of Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
Photo: Kathmandu Durbar Square
Photo: Patan Durbar Square
Amy was asking about feast and festival in my home town. Yes there are lot of feast and festival in Nepal. In average 1 festival per month. So we have lots of holiday here in Nepal. But my office has its own holiday plans so I can’t enjoy much holidays. There was a holiday for New Year after then it’s been 7 month we didn’t have any holiday.
Today we have one festival we call it Naaga Panchami. Naga means Snake so it’s a festival of snake.
It is ccelebrated during the monsoon rains on the fifth of the brightening lunar fortnight late in July or early August.
Naga, the Snake-Gods, are associated with rain in Nepal. People widely worship Snake-Gods as a controller of rainfall. When there is a drought, people perform pujas at chanting “Pani deu Naga Raja (Give us water Snake King)”.
Every year on this day, religious mela (fair) is organized at Nag Pokhari, Taudah and Nagdah as well. People of Thimi perform special puja in Sidha Pokhari, Bhaktapur where they believe that a Tantric holy man still dwells in the form of Snake. People, from all way of life, pray Naga, the underground Snake Deity with due respect and devotion for the protection of their treasures and water related calamites. Most of the people perform puja for Naga, before starting construction of new building to reduce the possible collapse of building due to Naga. Their images are displayed over the doorway of every Hindu household. Milk or rice water, honey, curds and boiled rice are offered for the Naga.
Photo : Siddapokhari, Bhaktapur
Photo: Taudaha lake , Chovar, Kathmandu
The lake was created by God Manjushree as a home for the serpents who lost their home when the valley was drained. Legend has it that the King of the Naga (or Serpents) - Karkotak resides to this day in the epicentre of the lake.
I don’t know today’s blog will be interesting for you or not. I am feeling that there is not a sequential flow in my writing today. Friends excuse me for this week; I have an interview in coming Friday and an exam in coming Sunday. I have to prepare for that. My office starts from 8:30 in the morning up to 5:30, Saturday and Sunday are with me to do the rest of thing other than official. But there is one drive that I need to find some time for improving my English.
Amy thanks for your all comments. I am weak in vocabulary. I hope “5 a day” will help to increase my vocabulary. Comments and questions to Amy’s blog will be on next blog.
Thank you all!
Kiran
Comments
Thank's Kiran, pictures tell everything. You got beautiful country and I believe everyone enjoy the pictures as well as your story. What is the Nepal housing complex looks like?..could you share it to us...
Hi Kiran, many thanks for your blog about Nepal. It is very interesting and informative as well. 199 languages for 28 milion people, VOW! that's really amazing! What's the widest spoken one? and what's yours? I'm always interested in the diversity of languages. Best, H.
Hi, Kiran Thank you for the fantastic pictures, and they look so beautiful and tranquil. I am so intrigued by how many languages Nepalese speak. I am very curious how many languages you understand and how many languages you can speak in Nepal. If you don’t mind I love to ask some questions. The questions are what language(s) is official and what sorts of sports are famous amongst women in Nepal. Do your country send sportsmen/sportswomen for The Olympic game in China? I wish you well in the interview and exams. Let us know. Good luck and see you soon! Oh! By the way I am a Korean but I live in England.
Hi, Kiran This is my second comment for you. But it seemed my first comment was not shown on your blog's comment. But it's okay. I'm from Bangkok. I love to read your blog. Our cultures and festivals are quite the same. We have the festival on Naga as well. Your country is very beautiful and peaceful. It is likely full all with green! Furthermore, I'm interested in Nepal's fuel consumption like kerosene, LPG or even electricity! It's green enerygy, is it? As you may know, there are more pollution in Bangkok. I hope somedays that we will consump more green enerygy here to save our world from global warming... Awaiting for your next blog, zee you, Jeedy/Bangkok
Dear Kiran, Thanks for all your pictures and Nepal story, we really appreciate your effort, It would be really good if you tell us more about your self and your nable family, Naweed Rahyab
Hello and WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First of all I would like to say that your blog is very interesting. Secondly, I want to make you two question-Could you tell us more things about your country and your culture? Which are the differences in Nepalese life between 1900 and 2008? Good luck in your exam!!! Bye
Hi Kiran, your pictures are great and your explanation is very good about Nepal and its culture.I wonder how the people from Nepal understand each other with so many spooken languages!
Dear Kiran, You are able to give much more information about Nepal. It is really difficult to organise various materials in a blog. So try to plan which information you want to give and which information most of comments writer want to get from you. Your blog is much more organised and able to give information about basic background of Nepal. I want to suggest you that please free to write and try to express yourself as much as possible.
Kiran, it was fascinating to read your post today, so informative! What is more; you have so lovely ways to express things. Until next time…
Hi Kiran. I really enjoyed your pictures, specially those of the lakes. Are there really many serpents? Are they poisoning? I would like to know if your name means something? Good luck and good bye.
Hi Kiran! You wrote a fantastic and very informative blog. It wasn't boring at all. Moreover you had the great idea to show our locations on the map. I like that. See you on your next blog. Bye bye, Cris
Hi Kiran! What a lovely pics! Moroever, it was very interesting to know more about your country. Best wishes, Ana Paula.
It's so nice to hear about your country. So Nepal is a Buddhistic country, is that right? I am a Buddhist and I go to the temples twice a month, on the 1st and 15th day of the month. How about you? What is your religious belief? Nice Weekend!
Hi Kiran, I have a spectacular coincident with you to share, first as I was also a person to come to this place for previous two teacher‘s blog and comment sometime. After long period of around one and half month, I came here again, and thought I clicked at teacher’s blog but mistakenly was clicked at student’s blog and the blogger was you, and I even thought you had come as a teacher blogger from Nepal, but you remain student blogger. Now, let me examine you- you are very clever, I don’t know whether you think so, but, as a matter of fact, having a good chance blogging here, my assessment is, you correctly clicked at the mood of the moment. That is your content of your presentation. The ability you possess has coined both the knowledge and writing skill, to which I can just admire not make the same kind of my own. Oh, I am sorry, as I am not here to judge you. After all, having a privilege of being a rented-Kathmandu dweller, I especially look forward to hearing from you about how I can do better. I am madhav Paudel, originally from Palpa. Meet you next
Hi Kiran, Ahaha I already know much more about overall conceptuals of Nepal. Most of places are common known like Kathmandu as well as Lalitpur, Mount Everes. These places illustrate plenty of thing that reflect kind traditions. The norm of Nepal doesn't different from Thailand in some aspects. The relegious, for example, is Buddhism because as you mention earlier,Nepal is renowned as the birth place of Lord Budda, but it is only 7% from the whole religious. The second thing is Nepal locate in Asia nearby Thailand, India ,and China. So some places in Napal,the climate is also the same.However,I request you telling more about tourist attractions. It would be great if you recommend me because if I have a chance to go there, the information will be valuable for guidance detail. With warm good wishes. Wisarut.
Dear Kiran, How nice to hear about you and your country! I´m Brazilian and live in the centre of the country, in a state called Mato Grosso and interestingly enough the people from this region are quite alike in appearance with you!Well, I do have a special interest for things related to India , Tibet and Nepal! One of my dreams is to visit these countries! I practice yoga and we do pujas during our practice!Interesting to know that you have just become a new republic and that you are so abundant in water!Nice also to hear that the serpent symbolizes water. I´ll sing Pani deu Naga Raja (Give us water Snake King)cause we are in dire need of some rain now! This is our dry season, we have six months of rain and the other six of dry season! I also loved the photos!Your blog has been really interesting with lots of information about your pictureque country. I loved the photos. I hope some day. I´d also have the opportunity to show bits of Brazil, the Pnatanal and the Chapada!By the way, I hope you have succeded in your test and interview! Love, Monica
Hi Kiran, Its motivating the things u have written about our country. Thanks a lot! Keep it up and do best to show Nepal throughout the world. God bless u.... Uden Maharjan, kathmandu
Hi Kiran, I am impressed by your presentation about Nepal, specially, about Kathmandu valley culture and some of the greatest things about Nepal. It is very important to bing to the notice to the people of the world. Many, people knowingly or unknowingly publising wrongly that Lord Buddha is born in India and not in Nepal. This time of article will be a big message to them. I wish that your paper will leave a mark in the heart of all Nepalese and do some thing for the betterment of the country.Thanks for your work.
Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.
