Loshar

Tibet's major Buddhist festival is Losar, which is the Buddhist New Year. However, before they can celebrate the coming of a new year, they must deal with unfinished business, and any unhappy memories. And so, on the 29th day of the last month in the old year, there is a festival called Gutor, in which everyone whitewashes and cleans their houses. A small amount of dirt is collected, which will later be thrown onto a place where spirits are thought to dwell.

The last day of the old year is spent preparing for the New Year. Many people go to monasteries to make offerings, and to participate in the many ceremonies that monks conduct during the day. Many rituals take place that are designed to chase away any evil spirits. One of these rituals is a play in which people wear grotesque masks and robes, dancing through the story of good ersus evil. Homeowners race through their houses shooting off guns or firecrackers to drive out evil. The next day, Losar itself begins on the first day of the New Year, and lasts about 3 days. Everyone gets up early to wash themselves in the nearest spring. The first day is celebrated only with family, but the second and third days can be celebrated with anyone. Many feasts and dances are held, in which people think of the year to come.

Source: Adventure Holiday Guide in Nepal.

Gorkhaland

Gorkhaland (Nepali: गोर्खाल्याण्ड) is the name given to the area of Darjeeling district and the Dooars in north West Bengal in India and originally belongs to the ethnic Indian Gorkhas residing there since historical period.

History

The Darjeeling area was ceded to the erstwhile British Government by the then Chogyal (King) of Sikkim under a ‘deed of grant’ dated February 1, 1835. The deed read as follows :

‘The Governor-General having expressed his desire for the possession of the hill of Darjeeling on account of its cool climate for the purpose of enabling the servants of his government suffering from sickness to avail themselves of its advantages, I, the Sikkim-Patti Raja, out of friendship for the said Governor general, hereby present Darjeeling to the East India Company, i.e., the land south of Great Rongit river, east of the Balasun, Kahali and Little Rongit river and west of the Rango and Mahanadi rivers’.

The treaty of Sinchula in November 1865 between the British and the Government of Bhutan resulted in the annexation of Kalimpong and its subsequent addition to the district of Darjeeling

On April 6, 1947 two Gorkhas, Ganeshlal Subba and Ratanlal Brahmin, members of the undivided CPI (Communist Party of India) submitted a quixotic memorandum to Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Vice President of the Interim Government for the creation of Gorkhasthan – an independent country comprising of the present day Nepal, Darjeeling District and Sikkim (excluding its present North District) in the line of Pakistan.

During the 1940s, the Communist Party of India (CPI) organized Gorkha tea workers. In presentations to the States Reorganisation Commission in 1954, the CPI favored regional autonomy for Darjeeling within West Bengal, with recognition of Nepali as a Scheduled Language. The All India Gorkha League preferred making the area a union territory under the Central government.

Then during the 80s Subash Ghising raised the demand for the creation of the state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of the hills of Darjeeling and areas of Dooars and Siliguri Terai contiguous to Darjeeling, with a large population of ethnic Gorkhas. The Gorkhaland movement took a violent turn in the 1980s when Subash Ghishing lead Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) issued a violent demand for statehood, which lead to the death of over 1200 people. This movement culminated with the formation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 1988. Over the years the state government allowed a free rein to Subash Ghishing and GNLF. The West Bengal government did not seek to control the DGHC as long as the demand for Gorkhaland was not brought up again.

After 20 years of GNLF rule the people of Darjeeling revolted against the tyranny, atrocities, high handedness and corruption of the GNLF and prevented Subash Ghishing from entering the Darjeeling hills. It was common knowledge that Subhash Ghising was close to senile as evident by his speeches at GNLF party congregations where he talked about the indigenous bougainvillea flower should be called “Gunakeshari” and the flower was a panacea for almost all diseases from common cold to diseases like AIDS. Apart from that, he was always accompanied by his personal “witch woman” who would give him the precise locations where he should erect a temple. One incident being he declared a big boulder lying on the side of a road in near Mirik as a rock from outer space, and ordered all of his “followers” to build a temple around it and to worship it. Since then the people of Darjeeling and Doors have reignited their fight for right to self assertion and development of the region by demanding the formation of Gorkhaland.

2009 BJP's support for Gorkhaland

Ahead of the 2009 Indian general election, the BJP again announced their policy of having smaller states and will create two more states Telangana and Gorkhaland if they win the general election. During the recent budget session (in July 2009) of Parliament, three veteran Parliamentarians; Rajiv Pratap Rudi, Sushma Swaraj and Jaswant Singh have strongly pleaded for Gorkhaland. They also said that smaller states are better governed and developed.

Making Dal and Bhat A Typical Nepali Food

Dal Bhat Recipe

The Nepalese national dish, dal bhat (lentils and rice), is an inexpensive and tasty meal to eat whilst trekking. If you order dal bhat at a lodge or tea house, any extra dal or bhat you need to satisfy your appetite is usually free. Porters sometimes refer to a hill climb as a '3 dhal-bhat' hill. You may hear a Nepalis joke about 'double dal-bhat' for real hunger or trekker greed.
Dal bhat is the safest thing to eat, because that's what the locals eat. Western trekkers may find that they enjoy it as much as the Nepalis, and wish to have the recipe to make it at home. So here it is, courtesy of Meg Sheffield and Siddhanta Shaha in Kailash magazine.

Dal

 Ingredients

• Half a cup of dal (black or yellow lentils)
• One and a half teaspoons of salt
• half a teaspoon of ghee
• Gound ginger
• 4 cups of water
• 1 pinch of jimbu (A special Nepali rice, see the folowing note)

Process

1. Boil water and a quarter of a tablespoon of ghee
2. Put the dal and the salt in the water and cook for an hour for black dal and half an hour for yellow dal.
3. Add ground ginger
4. Take oil off fire
5. Heat the rest of the ghee in a stirring spoon and fry the jimbu and put it in the dal.
6. Serve hot

Bhat

Well everyone has to learn how to boil rice sometime:
Wash two cups of rice. Do not pour the water directly onto the rice. Pour the water first on the hand held over the rice so as not to break the grains (Well that's what it says in Kailash!). Wash the rice about four times and drain off the water.
Add one and a quarter cups of water (sufficient to cover the rice) and a heaped tablespoon of ghee. Do not use poor ghee. If neccesary use butter instead.
Bring to the boil. Stir the rice only four times. Cook only for fifteen minutes. Each grain of rice must be separate and undamaged. (I always cover the pan and put a heavy weight on the lid. It also seems to cook better if you don't look at it)

Nutritional Information

The main source of protein in dal bhat is the dal or lentil sauce which is served with the rice. There are several kinds of dal. Black dal is grown in Kathmandu at the edge of the paddy. Yellow dal comes from the terai in southern Nepal. Dried peas and beans are also called dal and various types are often mixed. Dal is cooked in Nepal in a Kasauri, or round bottomed brass pot. Remember not to leave food standing in a brass container, or the food will be tainted with a metallic taste. With dal bhat, vegetables are also eaten, and it is these that provide minerals and vitamins. So eat your greens!
The jimbu spice mentioned in the dal recipe is a uniquely Nepalese spice. Jimbu looks like dried broken tarragon leaves. Jimbu can be bought in shops in Indrachowk in Kathmandu.

What is Namaste?

Namaste is the traditional way of greetings in Nepal. The action of joining the palms of both hands together in front of chest (over the heart): symbolizes, “I recognize the God in You”- It is the philosophy of oneness(I and you are one in mind and heart), and opens our hearts to spread love, peace, bliss and the ability to show how we can help and server each other. Everyone can say Namaste.  Practice of Namaste with clear intentions helps to develop faith in Ahimsa (non-violence).  Ahimsa paromo Dharma – Non- Violence is the greatest Dharma.

Source http://www.nepal4you.com/

What a domestic tourists may like to do in Kathmandu?

All the activities are of half day except the last one.

• Visit Pashupatinath
• Visit Swyambhunath
• Visit Patan Durbar Square
• Visit Budhanilkantha
• Visit an Airport 
• Visit Zoo
• Shopping at New Road 
• Watch Football Match
• Go For Swimming
• Watching Movies
• Whole day picnic at Godawari Botanical Garden.
  

Possibility of Tourism in Nepal

Nepal is a small country, it is rich in natural beauty. The higest mountain peak in the world (Sagarmatha), moderate climate and geographical diversity are the major characteristics of Nepal. People came to Nepal to observe hills, mountains, terai, rivers, lakes, gorges (Kaligandaki), etc. There is a great possibility of tourism industry development in Nepal. Such possibilities are shown in the chart.

Possibilities of Tourism Industry
Able to conduct sports
Adventure tourism
Rich in natural beauty
Higest mountain in the world
Diversity in culture and climate
Famous for religious places
Rich in Ancient art and culture

Month/Year             2002 A.D.             2003 A.D.             2004 A.D.             2005 A.D.

January                       7176                      21215                  30988                     25744

February                     20668                    24349                  35361                     20338

March                         28815                    27727                 44290                      29875 

April                           21253                    25851                 33514                       23414

May                            21887                    22704                 26802                       25541

June                            17218                     20351                19793                       22608

July                             16621                     22661                24860                       23996

August                         21093                    27568                33162                        36910

September                   23752                    28724                25496                        36060

October                       35272                    45459               43373                         51498

November                   28723                    38938               36381                          41505

December                   24990                    33115                31007                          38170                            

Source: Statistical Pocket Book, 2006, CBS, Nepal

Tourism Industry and It's Importance

The business avtivity connected with providing accomodaton entertainment, services to tourist is called tourism industry. In the fiscal year, 2062/63, 42% total GDP of Nepal was contributed to tourism.
Twenty years ago, Deepak was a farmer and was just able to grow only for ten months a year for his family. The change in life took place as trekkers began to follow the path past his house. He opened the shop along with the clean rest place in his land for the trekkers. That made a small lodge with that money. His daughter had got tranning in district technical school. She now manages the lodge and cooks varities of food. When his wife has time, she makes belt for trekkers. His eldest son was going to campus. His is interested in watching wild animals. Now he is a bird watching guide for tourists in Chitwan. His youngest son is now 15 years old and works as a cook for trekking company. He has only completed grade 8 but he is always eager to learn. He is the main cook in the trekking company.
Any person who travels from one place to another for pleasure, advanture, business, piligrimage, seminars, etc is called tourist. There are two types of tourists. 1. Domastic Touritst 2. International Tourists.
He is very popular with the trekkers. He also enjoys different meals of different countries.

Causes of Tourism
1. To enjoy during holidays.
2. To see and learn the lifestyle of other people.
3. For official and government work.
4.For trekkig, mountaineering and business.
5. To escape from the sever climate.
6. For pilgrimage.

Importance of Tourism
1. Earning foreign currency
2. Increase in trade
3. Contribution in national income
4. Development of physical and social infrastructure.

Dances of Nepal Classical Dances and Folk Dances

Charitra Dance 
People act as the characters of mythology. This dance is in vogue of the Terai area.

Maruni Dance
 This dance is common generally in eastern hilly region. The male in the guise of female performs this dance.

Khyali Dance
This dance is based on Khyali Song. It is also called Pangdure Dance.


Tarware Dance
This dance is traditional folk dance of Gandharva Community.

Chhokra Dance
This dance is common particularly in the far-western region.

Singaru Dance
This dance prevails in the mid-western region of Nepal

Hunkeli Dance
This dance is based on mythology. It prevails in the far western region of Nepal.

Pancha Buddh Dance
This dance is based on the relogious tradition of Buddha.

Devi Dance
This Dance is demonstrated especially from Gaijatra to Indra Jatra in the Kathmandu Valley. This is a specific dance of Bhaktapur.

Hanuman Dance

A person becomes Hanuman, an army of god Ram and performs this dance. Hanuman Dance is common in Baglung and Syangja.

Sorathi Dance

Sorathi Dance is also a traditional classic dance of Gurung Community.

Bhairab Dance

By becoming the image of God Bhairab, Bhairab Dance is performed. It is common in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Ghatu Dance

Ghatu Dance is common in the Gurung community. The god is aroused in the unmarried young girls (age ranging from 11 to 18/19 years) by the Guru Aama and Guru Ba and then the dance is performed.

Charya Dance

Charya Dance is acting as gods and goddesses. This dance is common in Kathmandu Valley

Hopcha

Hopcha is a traditional Classical Dance of the Rai community. This dance is common in the Rai community of Dhankuta disitrict.

Chyabrung Dance

This dance is based on the Limbu community in the eastern hilly region of Nepal. It was danced in the rhythm of Chyabrung.

Mundhum Dance

Based in the Mundhum of Kirat, this dance is common in the eastern hilly region of Nepal. Fedangwa/Fedangma or Nakchhod (priest) recite Mundhum in a musical tone and people dance

Deuda Dance

Deuda Dance is popular in the central and far western region. They  make a round a circle and one's shoulder touches other's shoulder while dancing.

Gauna Dance

Gauna Dance is based on Mithila tradition and popular at Janakpur.

Dandi (Fagu) Dance

Dandi or Fagu Dance is performed in Holi by striking sticks. This dance is common in Eastern and Central Terai.

Chandi Dance

The Rais with the help of Dholak and Jhyamta while singing a Chandi Song perform in this dance in Undhauli and Unbhauli festival.

Madi Khola Dance

Madi Khola Dance is common, specially in Mid-Western Region. The song sung in this dance is called Palam.

Kaura Dance

Kaura Dance is performed on the Basic of Kaura Song. This is the dance of Magar living in Western region of Nepal.

Dhan Dance

Dhan Dance is common in Limbu Community. Among Rai people also; this dance is popular. In fair and festival one person catches otther's hand while performing this dance.

Our Classical And Folk Dance

A dance based on ancient treatise is a Classical Dance and the dance based on people's traditions is Folk Dance. Classical Dance is performed in accordance with Classical Songs or instruments. Similarly, Folk Dances are performed in conformity with Folk Songs.

Patan Durbar Square

It lies in Lalitpur disitrict. It was the royal palace of Malla Kings. There are Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, Bishwonath Temple, Jagatnarayan Temple, image of Yognarendra Malla, Mahabouddha, Kumbheshwor Mahadev and Rato Macchindranath in Patan

Boudhanath Mahachaitya

It is located in Boudha to the north-east of Kathmandu. It is famous holy place for Buddhist. the Stupa was built arount 5th century. There are more than 45 (fourty-five) Boudha Stupas in this area.

Hanumandhoka Durbar Square

There is a belief that Pratap Malla named it as Hanumandhoka Durbar after he had erected the statue of Hanuman there. Different samples of architecture can be observed there. Places as well as Hanuman's image, Basantapur Durbar, Taleju Temple, Museum,  Kumari Ghar, Kasthamandap, Thuloghanta and Nagara are main Heritages of this area.

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park covers the area of 932 sq.km. One of the world's rare animals one horned rhino can be seen there. It is famous for one horned rhino. It has been known as famous for pilgrimage where elephants, crocodiles, spotted  tigers, hornbills/adjutant and salak can be seen.

Sagarmatha National Park

Ttotal area of Sagarmatha National Park is 1148 sq.km. It covers the area of Mt.Everest, the highest peal in the world, Lhotse, Chyoeu, Nuptse, Pumori and Amadablam mountain ranges and residential area around them. In this area rhodondendron and birch trees can be seen. Similarly, hog deer, bear, snow leopard and lophophorous are common animals in this area.

Pashupati Area

It is a holy place of Hindus. It covers the area of Pashupatinath Temple, Devpatan, Jaya Bageshwori, Gaurighat, Kutambahal, Gaushala, Pinglasthan and Sleshmantak Jungle area. There are 492 temples, inn and stupas built in different styles and about one thousand Shivalingas.

Lumbini

Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. It is famous for all Buddhist around the world. There is a Ashoka Pillar, eastiblished by emperor Ashoka in 245 BC. There are Pushkarini and Maya Devi Temples located here. After Lumbini Development Committee was formed in 1970 with the members of 13 countries, many countries has erected stupas and monasteries here. Countries like China, Myanmar, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, India, Thiland, France, Germany, etc have built Buddhist Monasteries. There are libraries, museum and research centres as well.