Getting to know Nepalese way of life

By Dhurba K. Deep

he Nepalese way of life is full of cultural wonders. Those who like to discover them and delight themselves with the better understanding of the Nepalese life style are advised to have some basic idea of the Nepalese cultural heritage. One of the best ways to understand and appreciate it is through the study of the Nepalese customs and manners. Here are some interesting Nepalese customs.

Receiving Guests

Guests in Nepal are traditionally ranked next to god. The Namastey greeting to guests are generally extended with smile and on important occasions with flowers. Sherpas, the famous mountain climbers of Nepal, use the Khata- a kind of plain white cotton scarf to show their respect for the guests. Garlanding the VIP guests is a multi-ethnic custom very common in this country. If you want to say "Thank you" to somebody for the kindness shown or any service done to you, use the word- "Dhannebad!" though not very common yet fairly understandable. So it is good enough to use this term now.

Red tika and black eye paint

According to a very ancient Nepalese custom, wearing a red mark locally known as Tika on one's forehead signifies the blessing of god. There are many kinds of Tika. One can see people wearing different colours or kinds of tika. What colour should be the tika for a certain occasion depends on the type of temple ceremonies one has to undergo. But one should not forget to note that the red tika is very common sight both in Hindu and Buddhist communities of Nepal. However many women use it here just for the decoration too. Besides this, baby boys and girls wearing typical black eye paint locally known, as Gajal is also very common here. This traditional eye paint has different purposes to serve: the one that children wear is meant for keeping evil eyes away and the one that grown-ups wear is meant just for the decorative purpose.

Youth and Love

The Nepalese youths do not like to display their love affairs in public. Public display of lovy dovy job could easily embarrass the locals and some may take it as a shameful behaviour. Boys walking hand in hand here is a common sight, which by no means indicates anything more than friendship, and feeling they have for each other.

Marriage and family tie

Child marriage, polygamy and polyandry though illegal now, once in a while seem to feed the local newspaper with interesting stories. Marriage in Nepal is still mostly arranged. However it does not necessarily mean that boys and girls do not have any say in the decision their parents make. Despite the fact that the majority of marriages is arranged, yet the divorce rate is incredibly low. However love marriage now seems to be gaining ground. The family tie in Nepal is still strong and it is a big social attraction.

The outfit women wear

The more the Nepalese women hide themselves under the garment the better admired they are. So it is always advisable for visiting women guests not to wear skimpy or revealing clothes. This might be very embarrassing for the Nepalese elders to look at and some might even make ugly remarks on the one who wears them.

Food habits

The Nepalese do not eat the food somebody has taken a bite of or touched with one’s mouth or lips unless they are really starved. Such foods are considered impure or contaminated, which in Nepali is called jutho. Nepalese do not use a jutho (used or unwashed) plate for the next serving no matter how clean it may look until it is thoroughly washed. In order to avoid the jutho, many Nepalese-when they eat light things such as candies and cookies, they usually airdrop it into their mouth without letting them touch their lips.

The majority of Nepalese are however very strict about their food habits. As such the visiting guests are advised not to lay their hands on cooked foods in the family unless they make sure that nothing can go wrong with their doing so. For the newcomers who come form completely different cultural background it is also advisable not to quickly volunteer themselves to touch any foodstuff displayed for sales in the food shops.

On drinking water

The Nepalese are also very particular about the drinking water. For the orthodox Nepalese to see a man from untouchable class touching the drinking water can be very embarrassing.

The Nepalese are more accustomed to drinking the water from a metal pot called Karuwa or tanpho (either brass or copper) with a little spout or tube fixed in it. Serving the water in a glass is very new. They are very careful not to touch their lips with the pot when they drink the water. Before and after meals washing one’s hands and rinsing his mouth is considered a fine cultural grace.

Everything on the floor

When guests are invited at traditional Nepalese homes the host usually does not eat with his guests. His main concern will be to entertain them with nice talks and treats. Breaking this tradition to orthodox eyes will be very disgraceful. Wives in Nepal, except the few sophisticated ones, do not volunteer to accompany their husbands in big parties. Those who break this norm are considered very unfeminine. The newcomers to this country when invited at Nepalese homes for dinner or for some light refreshment are always advised to go well prepared to sit on the floor and do every thing on the floor.

Privacy in family

The Kitchen in traditional Nepalese houses particularly in the Kathmandu valley is very much like a holy temple at home. Almost all the Nepalese homes in the valley, except a few modern ones, have kitchens on the top floor. Kitchens, prayer rooms and storerooms are used as important private rooms. Walking straight into one of these rooms without permission of the family chief could easily upset him and even ruin the entire atmosphere of hospitality the host was willing to show to his guests.

‘Delights to discover are there
Where the Nepalese customs are.
Dreams to touch are there
Where the Himalayas are.’

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