The Himalayan
Kingdom has the richest and most diverse cultural
landscapes anywhere. Nepal
is the holy land of Lord Pashupatinath and Gautam
Buddha where the Hindus and Buddhists
have lived together in harmony for centuries. The
Temple of Pashupatinath is Nepal's most sacred Hindu
shrine and one of the four most important cities in
the world for Shiva worshippers. Lord Buddha, the
light of Asia,
was born in Lumbini in Nepal's
southern plains, which makes Nepal a scared pilgrimage
destination for Buddhists as well.
The rich tapestry of the cultural heritage of Nepal
is synthesized in the
Kathmandu Valley. The three ancient cities of
the Valley Patan, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur represent an
epitome of harmony in urban design, elegant architecture
and refined culture. These cities pack a concentration
of religious monuments unequalled in the world.
The relaxation of censorship that followed the overthrow
of Rana rule in 1951 encouraged a revival of artistic
and intellectual expression. In literature and poetry,
Nepali works emphasize the cultural renaissance and
national patriotism. King Mahendra, a poet whose Nepali
lyrics have been published in English
translation under the name of M.B.B. Shah (for Mahendra
Bir Bikram Shah), did much to promote the revival
of arts and literature.
The cultural heritage of Nepal,
particularly contributions made by the Newar of Kathmandu
Valley to sculpture, painting, and architecture, is
a source of great pride. Hindu and Buddhist religious
values have provided the basic source of inspiration
to Newar artisans. The themes of most artistic works
have been primarily religious; the lives of the gods,
saints, heroes, the relationship of man to society
and to the universe are expounded in sculpture, architecture,
and drama. In Kathmandu Valley some 2,500 temples
and shrines display the skill and highly developed
aesthetic sense of Newar artisans.
Music and dance are favourite pastimes among the Nepalese.
Religious ceremonies require the use of drums and
wind instruments preserved from ancient times. Important
in most religious and family occasions are devotional
songs that have elements of both classical and folk
music and that have been used by some contemporary
musical revivalists in their attempt to bridge the
gap between the two.
