(Based on the Lectures of Professor Dr. Ramesh Kunwar)
If you want to learn more about Nepal then visit Explore Nepal.
Nepalese Society and Culture
Nepali society is multicultural, multiethnic, multi religious and multi-racial society. 126 ethnic/caste groups live in the country and they belong to 4 major racial groups which are:
Mongoloid
Caucasoid
Munda
Dravid
These groups speak more than 120 identified languages which belong to 4 major language families.
Tibeto-Burmese or Sino-Tibetan
Indo-European
Munda
Dravid
9 different religions are found to be practiced in Nepal which are:
Hinduism
Buddhism
Islam
Christianity
Jain
Kirat
Bahai
Sikhism
Prakriti
Demography of Nepal:
There are total 125 ethnic/caste groups in Nepal. 9 ethnic groups in the mountain, 34 in hills (9 caste groups 4 higher caste (Brahmins, Chhetris, Thakuris and Dasnamis) and 5 dalits (Sarki, Kami, Gaine, Damai, Badi).
67 groups speak Sino-Tibetan language,
47 speak Indo-European language,
2 speak Austro-Asiatic,
3 speak Dravid and 5 other languages.
7 ethnic groups in inner Terai and 14 ethnic groups in outer terai.
49 sub-caste groups in Terai. 35 caste groups are recognized as backward castes.
15 dalits in Terai
Single ethnic/caste group dominate 5 districts. The major characteristic of caste is interdependency. Hill hindus do not have Vaishya group structurally. So, they have only three layers of social structure. In Newars and Madhesi caste system, they have all four. Each hierarchy is interdependent for survival. Brahmins perform rituals for other 3 groups and play the role of intermediary between godly world and this world. Brahmins help other 3 groups to get religious merit and in return all three groups will provide service. Chhetris are said to be aggressive, so they protect the territory and governs it. For this he will get religious merit from the brahmins and service from Vaishya and Sudhra. Likewise, Vaishya will collect all materials and provide to all groups and in return they receive religious merit from the brahmin, security from the chhetris and service from the sudhra. Sudhra provides service to all groups and get food, security and religious merit in return. A brahmin with a written text must be present in order to perform a ritual. The caste groups are non-egalitarian. They save not share and they have a close culture which means the society is controlled by the seniors and uncountable social rules and regulations. Individualism and social hierarchy are present.
Ethnic groups are pre-literate. They may not read and write but they perform the ritual. The shaman or village head will perform the ritual without the written text. Shaman is called pre-literate scientist. He is supposed to know everything, has solutions to every problems. One of the major characteristic of ethnic group is that they are self reliant and they are not dependent to any other communities. Another important characteristic of the group is they are egalitarian. An individual is ready to share anything with the group members. They have a sharing culture. Everyone is free and the society is open. No senior controls the juniors. They do not have hierarchy in the social structure and follow collectivism and solidarity.
Sharma, Pitambar. 2012: Studies in Nepali History and Society: Volume 17, No. 2. Mandala books
The occupations of sub-caste groups is determined by birth.
Diversity in unity and Unity in diversity : Two school of thoughts of Nepal
Everyone can say Nepal is a multiethnic, multi religious, multilingual, multicultural and multiracial society but no one can answer what Nepalese society looks likes due to its huge diversity. Just studying 126 ethnic/caste groups do not help in understanding the Nepalese society as a whole. The geographical factor which has influenced the culture has to be taken into account too.
Geographically Nepal is divided into three major parts, the himalayan region, the Hills and the Tarai. Therefore, according to the geographical components, Nepalese divided into three broad categories which are:
Terai Society and CultureIf you want to learn more about Nepal then visit Explore Nepal.
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