Wonderful Beautiful Nepal | Travel, Culture & Food

Economic inequality is one of the most popular issues in our political and economic discourses. With the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement around the world, the debate has resurfaced in the global scenario too. In our context, totalitarianism is sought after for the sake of equality. The issue, no matter how well-intended, begs for a different perspective. Opportunities against outcome Equality of opportunity is indeed a prerequisite for a free society and the government can play a crucial role. Ensuring rule of law, property rights for every class of people and equal access to economic activities are things a government can do to achieve a prosperous society. On the other hand, equality of outcome sought through government actions is not only antithetical to a free society but also counter- productive to economic growth. Many intellectuals and politicians advocating equality tend to ignore that free people are not equal and equal people are not free. In a free society, economic outcome la...

“I love the sound of rain.” So goes the first line in the lyrics of a song Reiza is writing. “I forgot the sound of rain,” is my response to it. There’s something about rain and romance. Rain and poetry. Rain and love. And as I sit here with the darkness growing around the room – I’m too lazy to turn on the lights! – I hear the rain falling outside. I see the droplets sliding on the window pane like lazy dancers and it stirs memories of rain. Hmmm, that sounds like a cute title for a story. Memories of Rain. A watery view of the world. Camera art, pure and simple.  The first time I experienced rain falling for five days non-stop was in Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, . And they thought it was very good weather. Mostly because it cooled down the heat. But the people in places like Surkhet live in fear of rain, for mudslides happen every monsoon, and those in the plains live in fear of floods. But unlike in Uganda w...

If it is the soul, that leaves the body of man when he dies, the Stars of south eastern Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , an aboriginal tribe, believe that it literally needs some suitable exits, So, when a family member is breathing his last, they keep all their doors and windows open to facilities the soul an unhindered passage to heaven. The rais of eastern Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , in  their turn, lose no time in slaughtering a chicken as soon as there is death in the family, the sex of the bird being determined by that of the deceased person, Some feathers plucked from  its wings are then place underneath the dead man's armpits; to help him fly smoothly to heaven. Noise on the other hand; becomes synonymous with a Newar funeral in kathmandu Valley, where the tendency appears to be collect as many persons as possible to keep on ...

In Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , detailed percentage of population by religion as given by Central Bureau of Statistics 2001 is as follows.                  Religion                      Percentage                                  Hindu                         80.62                                    Bouddha ...

" All human are equal", said the Buddha and by so doing let loose a storm that more than sending jitter down the spine of a tradition caste ridden Hindu society, swept himself off his feet. Hinduism stood for casteism and Buddha opposed it. It was nothing for Buddha to partake of the food offered by Sujata a lowly untouchable girl as far as the Hindu were concerned, thereby drawing hordes of people of her ilk towards him, and away from Hinduism. What's more Hinduism was based on sacrifices and rituals. Buddha had no respect fro them. Hindus believed in a transcendental soul; Buddha did not support this belief. Thus, wasn't Buddha against almost all the basic tenets of the then prevalent Hindu faith? Ovbiously, Buddha had thus hit the citadels of Hindu norms and and beliefs where it hurt them most. And, for all that he did to demolish the well nurtured and cherished Hindu beliefs and instititions, he would be made to suffer sooner or later. This Hindu, Buddhist tug...

Dattaraya Square was crowded as we went through to find a place for lunch on the first day of Makar Sankranti. This five week festival is in honor of Lord Shiva and when a person prays to Shiva during this auspicious month it is surely to be met with favor. Each Monday for the next four weeks women will go to the temple to pray for a husband with the qualities of Shiva, and for those who are already married, they wish for a long life for their husbands.  We had lunch at De Square Restaurant. Although a bit pricy for me, and always a disappointment, it has a great view of the temple. As I looked down I could see women standing in a very long line with their dishes of offerings. They were mostly dressed in lovely new, red sarees for the festival. The women all wear red clothing with green jewelry for prosperity, with the exception of widows.   I could also see some serious shopping going on below. A crowd of women were looking at fabric to make the traditional kurta. I was i...