Nepali Culture

 Nepali Topi is the the national cap of Nepal - it's rather the part of the national dress for men. Many Nepalese were Topi proudly and it makes them feel good. One of the best ways to show that you care about Nepal and Nepalese is to wear this cap. Many visitors take back home a Nepali topi and use it in special occasions such for receiving Nepali friends at airport or during celebrations. Nepali Topi makes an unique and simple method to show your affection for Nepal and Nepalese. If you can, wear a Nepali topi while traveling in Nepal - for a Nepali topi on your head you feel like a Nepali and what better experience can be more than that!
   ¹     The culture of Nepal is truly unique. Nowhere on earth can you find a way of life like in Nepal. This is partly because of Nepal's geography and partly because of its age. Nepal has been an organized society for at least 1,500 years, and people have been living in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley for another 2,000 years. Nepal's location between northeast India and southwest China puts it in the middle of an important Asian trade route. Both of these reasons helped shape modern Nepalese culture.
 ²     A critical part of Nepalese life is religion, and most in Nepal practice Hinduism. Another big portion of the Nepalese are Buddhists. Hinduism is said to be the oldest religion on earth, and it's a fairly complex religion. Hinduism dates back to at least 1500 BC, where it found its beginning in the Indus River valley in northern India and nearby Pakistan.
 ³     Hinduism is different from many other religions for many reasons. One is because Hindu doesn't recognize one founder of their religion, as Christians do with Christ or Muslims do with Muhammad. Hindus also don't have one sacred book of teachings as other religions do. Hindus believe in the phrase "all rivers lead to one ocean," meaning that God accepts all worshipers, regardless of what religion they belong to. Because of this, Hindus don't try to convert others to Hinduism.
Though the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal has once again observed "International Women's Day" amidst various formal programs across the country on Sunday, women still are living second gender life in Nepal.

Nepali women in traditional dresses take part in a celebration to mark the International Women's Day in Nepal's capital Kathmandu on March 8, 2009. The main theme of the International Women's Day for Nepal this year is "Voice of All Nepalis: Drafting Women-friendly Constitution.

    No matter they are high class or low, Nepali women are socially, economically and politically discriminated. The deep rooted patriarchy system of the society as well as the previous government has marginalized them as second class gender, said women activists in Nepal on Sunday.
    "Nepal has written some of the laws in the favor of women, these laws could be our achievement, but they are not implemented," said Sapana Pradhan Malla, a lawmaker in the Constitutional Assembly (CA).
    Malla, who is also an advocate and women rights activists, said that 33 percent of women participation in the state's every sector has not been achieved yet, despite the fact that 33 percent reservation has already been mentioned in Nepal's Interim Constitution 2008.
    Nepali women rights activists referred this fact as dual mentality of patriarchal system governed by male drivers, who say something and mean something else.
    Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda assured that the new republican government which has for the first time organized a formal program in Nepal to mark "International Women's Day", is improving the status of women gradually.
    Prachanda on Sunday claimed that Nepali women who are unaware of their rights and are being dominated by male are getting to know their rights. According to him, all this is happening after the new republican government came into power.
    However, Nepali women activists gathered in Nepali capital Kathmandu on Sunday and described Prachand's claim as an "irony". According to them, Prachanda has not appointed minister for "Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW)" yet.

    Prachanda was elected Prime Minister of the republic government on Aug. 15, 2008 and the cabinet got its final shape on Aug. 31, 2008. Prime Minister Prachanda himself is leading MoWCSW right now.
    "The new constitution will emerge how women lawmakers want. If women are united then they can make difference as their will," said Prachanda while addressing the mass.
    Since Nepal is in the verge of drafting new constitution so far, this year's celebration of the 99th International Women's Day has come up with the main theme of "Women-friendly constitution drafting, appeal to all Nepali".
    Nainkala Thapa, President of National Women Commission (NWC) and coordinator of 99th International Women's Day main organizing committee said discrimination on the basis of gender difference is continuing in Nepal by the state itself, adding such discrimination is a violation of human rights. She asked all women across the country to unite and raise voices while drafting new constitution.
    Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Sahana Pradhan appealed the new republic to declare NWC as constitutional commission. "Government has not taken NWC as constitutional commission. Unless it is announced as a constitutional commission, no issues related with women will be taken seriously," added Pradhan.
    Prachanda vowed to present the proposal in the cabinet to declare NWC as constitutional commission.