Religion in Nepal is not only a system of social
coherence based on certain rituals and beliefs. It is the binding force that
ties this mountain kingdom together. Though Nepal is famous as the world's
only Hindu Kingdom, equal respect is given to other religions as well.
Buddhism is the second largest religion followed in Nepal, others being
Tantrism, Islam and Christianity.
| Hinduism |
86.51% |
| Buddhism |
7.78% |
| Islam |
3.53% |
| Christianity, Tantrism & others |
2.17% |
Pilgrimage Sites
East Nepal - Barah Chhetra, Halesi Mahadev, Janakpur, Pathibhara,
Tengboche
Central Nepal - Manakaman, Gorkha, Lumbini, Muktinath, Gosainkunda,
Tansen, Kathmandu Valley
West Nepal - Swargadwari, Khaptad Ashram
Nepalese Society & Religion
Religion occupies an integral position in Nepalese life and society. In the
early 1990s, Nepal was the only constitutionally declared Hindu state in the
world. There is, however, a great deal of intermingling of Hindu and
Buddhist beliefs. Many of the people regarded as Hindus in the 1981 census
could, with as much justification, be called Buddhists.
The fact that Hindus worshipped at Buddhist temples and Buddhists
worshipped at Hindu temples has been one of the principal reasons adherents
of the two dominant groups in Nepal have never engaged in any overt
religious conflicts. Because of such dual faith practic,es and mutual
respect the differences between Hindus and Buddhists have been in general
very subtle in nature.
Hinduism in Nepal
Hinduism is the major religion of Nepal. In the 1991 census, approximately
89.5 percent of the Nepalese people identified themselves as Hindus.
Buddhists and Muslims comprised 5.3 and 2.7 percent, respectively. The
remainder followed other religions, including Christianity.
The national calendar of Nepal, Bikram Sambat (B.S.), is a solar Hindu
calendar essentially the same to that widespread in North India as a
religious calendar, and is based on Vedic principles of time-keeping. The
geographical distribution of religious groups revealed a preponderance of
Hindus, accounting for at least 87 percent of the population in every
region. Among the Tibeto-Nepalese, those most influenced by Hinduism were
the Magar, Sunwar, and Rai peoples.
Buddhism in Nepal
Buddhism in Nepal dates from the birth of Siddhartha Gautama himself. Nepal
is the meeting point for Indian and Tibetan Buddhist teachers. The country
became a repository of Buddhist Sanskrit literature and famous for its
production of fine Buddhist art.
Intermingling of Hinduism & Buddhism
There has traditionally been a great deal of intermingling of Hindu and
Buddhist beliefs. Many of the people regarded as Hindus in the 1981 census
could also in some senses be called Buddhists. Hindus worshipp at Buddhist
temples and Buddhists at Hindu temples. The reason for this is that both
Hinduism and Buddhism have common roots as religions, and over most of their
history, have not been seen as separate communions, but rather rival
tendencies within a shared religious tradition.
