Stepping out of the airplane after an uncomfortable 22-hour journey to be met with hot and humid air was one of the most comforting experiences I have had. As I stepped down from the airplane and saw the bright red, blue, and white Nepali flag waving across the airport’s rooftop, I smiled. Although others looked worn out and tired, I was excited to be back home. I was ready to embark on a journey into Nepal’s culture, tradition, and monuments.
Nepal is a country that radiates peculiarity. The country’s mountainous terrain, urban villages with a freshness of tradition, and rich, religious heritage immerse tourists with a pure sense of awe. The country, located in South Asia between China and India, dips itself into both countries’ dominant and diverse cultures. Nepal’s unique attributes shape its identity and appeal to tourists, who excitedly document their journeys in Nepal through YouTube and other social media platforms.
What exactly is the culture like in Nepal that captivates foreigners and civilians?
From personal experience and research into the country’s environment, Nepal consists of a unique population structure, tradition, and appearance. The country’s religion is a blend of Buddhism and Hinduism, consisting of 90 percent of the population. However, the population isn’t simply limited to these categories — Nepal contains small percentages of Muslims, Christians, and Kiraists as well.
Yet, Nepal’s diversity is further complex than that; Nepal comprises over 125 ethnic groups and has a racial diversity of 86%, making it one of the most diverse countries in the world. When I went to Nepal in the summer of 2022, I traveled to many cities around the country. This includes the capital Kathmandu, as well as the cities of Pokhara, Ilam, and Lalitpur. Going to these cities helped me to visualize how everywhere in Nepal, you will find such distinct individuals that it is hard to overgeneralize them into a single category.
This diversity spawns from migration events during the development of Nepal. Nepal’s genetic makeup is made up of several ethnicities such as Tibetan, Thai, Indian, and Burmese. Each of these ethnicities migrated to a particular region of Nepal, which highly influenced that region’s demographics and genetic material.
Nepal has piqued many people’s interest due to its customs and traditions. Nepalese customs focus on tradition and religion. For instance, Kumari, a practice in Nepalese Hinduism, is the tradition of worshiping a chosen young woman as a form of deity by adorning her in religious clothing and scriptures. This ancient practice focuses on purity and acquiring a human vessel to represent the divine power of the goddess Shakti. The practice of Kumari takes place during the Kumari Jatra and Indra Jatra religious ceremonies. Although this is a common custom in Nepal, the traditions and cultural rules you follow depend on your caste, religion, and ethnic group.
One of the most significant celebrations in Nepal has to be Dashain. This is the religious Harvest Festival in Nepal that happens in October. It emphasizes the importance of family reunions, the exchange of gifts and blessings, and elaborate ceremonies. Dashain brings together even strangers; the family of your friend is now your family for Dashain, your mom’s friend’s son is now your brother, and your teacher is now your uncle.
Dashain is primarily about people visiting their elders to receive tikka. Tikka is a formulation of red dye and rice that is applied on a person’s forehead. It symbolizes blessings for the upcoming year and brings you prosperity. I always look forward to Dashain, as spending time with family is a cherished and priceless event. Although I celebrate Dashain every year in America with my family, Dashain in Nepal is much more grand, as there are a multitude of festivals happening on the streets, and school is closed for students during the whole month.
Though religion is a major part of Nepali life, so is the caste system. Although it has grown less rigid in the past few decades, this system still dictates social norms in Nepal. Nepal’s caste system is loosely based on India’s Chaturvarna Ashram model. The caste system of Nepal consists of four social classes in order: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Sudra. The caste system holds the power to either open up a multitude of opportunities in Nepal or keep you in a difficult position. For example, if you are a Brahmin, you’re given a greater chance for connections, and your family is most likely wealthy and in the city. However, if you are a Sudra, then you are most likely a farmer, and it is difficult to leave this lifestyle.
When I asked my mother about the complications of the caste system and how it impacts social life, she said, “The caste system can make or break your life — Nepal is already under-resourced. So, unless you work hard and luckily create an opportunity for yourself, you are going to be doing whatever your caste usually does.” The caste system is not something you can move up the ranks of; once your caste is set, it is permanent. The caste system is correlated with the geography of Nepal: if you are located in the capital and live comfortably, you are most likely a Brahmin. Whereas, if you live in villages, you are in a lower rank. Because this system represents a derogatory, rigged, and biased society, there have been efforts to overthrow it completely. Nepali laws have banned caste system discrimination; however it is still prevalent.
The caste system is not the only underlying problem in Nepal: the country’s lack of proper infrastructure and facilities creates distress. When I visited Nepal in 2022, there was no clean drinking tap water — instead, we drank water out of a filtered water jug. Clean water has been a concern in Nepal for years. My mother stressed, “Clean water is a privilege. Many citizens boil water to make it clean. Not everyone can afford a living space, so how can they afford even a sink?”
While it is true that clean water is a privilege in Nepal, it is a necessity and should be accessible. Aid has been distributed to tackle this issue; however, the statistics persist: only 25% of the population can access a fully functional drinking water supply. This compromised water quality fosters cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. Consistent aid may mitigate these difficulties, but this is a major issue regarding hygiene and sanitation. Unless you are privileged enough to spend a week’s salary on a jug of water — then you are likely on the brink of poverty and deteriorating health.
Nepal’s economy and political landscape have been heavily impacted by its struggles with poverty and political instability, compounded by its complex relationship with communism. The push for a communist government in Nepal began as a response to widespread poverty and dissatisfaction with the existing monarchy. Many hoped a shift towards communism would bridge economic inequalities, particularly in remote and impoverished regions. The establishment of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008, replacing the monarchy, was meant to empower citizens and lay the foundation for economic growth. However, the promise of a prosperous future has yet to be fulfilled for many Nepalese people.
Although I was lucky enough to experience a happy and memorable trip to Nepal, I was often interrupted by the pervasive poverty that is shown throughout the cities. Everywhere I went, including temples, movie theaters, and malls — I was met with the hard truth of Nepalese instability: mothers and children would be sitting at the ends of the streets selling corn for 10 cents, struggling to make ends meet for their children. Many people lived in tents and sheds that they made themselves, and often, they did not have enough to buy food or diapers for their children. Yet, the media does not depict these struggles and only emphasizes Nepal’s natural landscapes.
“People don’t see Nepal for what it truly is,” my mother stated when asked about the rapid tourism in Nepal. “Yes, it is a stunning place, but how can you enjoy any of that when you’re met with sad and despairing faces of families barely surviving? Nepal isn’t what it used to be.” My mother and many other Nepalese citizens believe that tourists should acknowledge the regressive situation in Nepal and do anything they can to help.
Economic opportunities are sparse, leading to an ongoing cycle where individuals in low-income areas struggle to rise above subsistence. For instance, in remote mountain villages, generations remain dependent on small-scale farming, often lacking access to modern equipment and technologies. A considerable portion of Nepal’s youth migrate abroad, primarily to countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, hoping to earn money to support their families. While this has somewhat uplifted the national economy through remittances, it has also drained Nepal of a generation’s potential to fuel local growth.
When I asked my mother, a Nepali immigrant, about the topic of poverty and immigration in Nepal, she said, “Everywhere you go in the city, you will find at least a family or two selling fruits on the streets. These are usually families that are barely meeting ends. It is heart-wrenching to see, and you cannot escape it. Plus, the educational opportunities in Nepal tend to depend on your caste status and character, so many people try to immigrate, but it is often luck if you get to. For me, it was about more opportunities for my children, that is why I chose to come to America. America was and is the end goal for so many of us in Nepal, so reaching and succeeding here is genuinely an amazing dream come true.”
Although many Nepalese, such as my mother, were able to immigrate to America to provide opportunities for themselves and their children, others in Nepal who wish to immigrate due to poverty and financial crisis are not as lucky.
As tourists trek through Nepal’s cities and villages, they see both the incredible natural beauty of the land and its challenges. Though captivating, the centuries-old temples and lush landscapes reveal a contrast to the urban areas, where under-resourced infrastructure, limited healthcare, and unemployment are prevalent. Although the Nepalese spirit of hospitality and resilience shines through, the struggle is discernible, and it demands recognition and support for Nepal’s everlasting, yet fading beauty.
“People don’t see Nepal for what it truly is,” my mother stated when asked about the rapid tourism in Nepal. “Yes, it is a stunning place, but how can you enjoy any of that when you’re met with sad and despairing faces of families barely surviving? Nepal isn’t what it used to be.”