The land of Ethnic diversity

Cultural and ethnic diversity is one of the major aspects for which the Himalayan country is famous. As a country diverse in its physical features, Nepal can be called a country of diverse diversities. It lies in between the world’s two different largest populated countries, India and China.

Nepal serves as a fusion point of the Mongoloids and the Aryans, thus creating a nation where diverse demographics live in perfect harmony with each other. Here in this Himalayan land, different ethnic groups of people reside according to the diversity of landscape and altitude. For example, a person living in the southern plains is totally different from the one living in the mid-hills and the northern high Himalayan region.

Besides, their language, culture, and other aspects of the demographics are diverse. As per the census of Nepal, there are 125 distinct ethnic groups along with over 100 languages in a country whose total population is less than 30 million. These diverse ethnic groups are supposed to be the fusion of Indo-Aryan, Tibetan- Burmese, and Mongol ethnic groups, thus the appearance of the people is similar.

Some of the major ethnic groups in Nepal are Khas Chhetri , Hill Brahmin/Bahun, Magar, Tharu, Tamang ,Newar, Kami , Musalman/Nepali Muslims ,Yadav, Rai, Gurung, Damai/Dholi, Thakuri, Limbu, Sherpa, Sarki, Sharma Badhaee Tarai Brahman, Chamar/Harijan/Ram ,Kushwaha, Musahar, Kurmi , Sanyasi/ Dasnami , Dhanuk, Kanu/Haluwai , Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi and many others.

Most ethnic groups are divided according to their physical appearance and the languages they speak along with the region they reside in. Ethnic communities originating from the northern belt of the Himalayan country have similar physical features as that of the Tibetan- Chinese people or commonly referred to as Mongoloids.

People living in the hilly regions of the central belt of Nepal appear to be a mix between the Mongoloids and the Aryans. And the one populating the southern plains resembles the Aryans. However, the situation has changed in the present days as the migration of people from rural places to towns and cities is growing, which in turn is leading to the mixing of different ethnic communities.

A dark side of the diverse ethnic diversity was prevalent in the form of the caste system which was a discriminatory practice, where a certain group of people would be superior to another ethnic group. Also known as “Untouchability”, the people of “lower caste” was regarded as untouchable creating a misbalance in society.

For now in the 21st century, with the help of political movements, education, and awareness this system of discrimination associated with ethnicity has been depreciated. People are more open to interacting with people from another caste group, and in some cases, matrimony relationships are also being accepted. Although, some traces of discrimination can still be found in society, which is inevitable.

Today Nepal can be described as the perfect example of diverse ethnic and cultural demographics living in harmony. The best time to explore this situation is during the festivals, as it doesn’t matter what ethnic group a festival belongs to, you’ll see people from all over the country celebrating the festival and enjoying it to the fullest.

“It doesn’t matter if you are from a certain ethnic group or from a certain occupational group; the only thing that matters is that you live your life to the fullest and enjoy it “has been the motto of every community residing in Nepal. Even the national anthem of the country states “we are a garland of 100 different flowers “and this is true by every means possible. These diverse ethnic groups of Nepal make the Himalayan country a fascinating destination to explore for those interested in learning about diverse cultural heritage.

This factor allows for diverse practices and rituals of spirituality to coexist under a single nationality. As an amalgamation of diverse ethnic and indigenous groups of people, one has every bit of new things to explore. Therefore if you are intrigued to learn about the diverse ethnic background of this Himalayan country, then you should come here once in your lifetime and witness it with a firsthand experience.

Some of the best times to explore the different cultural and ethnic aspects of Nepal are during the festivals. And you have plenty of festivals to choose from including Dashain, Tihar, Indra Jatra, Kumari Jatra, Chhath, Buddha Purnima, Janai Purnima, and many more.