Religion is important in Nepal; the
Kathmandu Valley alone has more than 2,700 religious
shrines. The Nepal constitution describes the country
as a "Hindu Kingdom," although it does not establish
Hinduism as the state religion. Nepal's constitution
continues long-standing legal provisions prohibiting
discrimination against other religions and proselytization.
Nevertheless, Nepal
remains the only officially Hindu country in the world
and the king is deified as the earthly manifestation
of the Hindu
god,
Vishnu.
The 2001 census identified 80.6% of
the population as Hindu
and Buddhism
was practiced by about 11% of the population (although
many people labelled Hindu or Buddhist often practice
a syncretic blend of Hinduism, Buddhism and/or animist
traditions). About 4.2% of the population is Muslim
and 3.6% of the population follows the indigenous
Kirant
Mundum religion. Christianity is practiced
by less than 0.5% of the population.
Buddhist
and Hindu shrines and festivals are respected and
celebrated by most Nepalis. Nepal also has Muslim
(4.2%), indigenous Kirant (3.6%) and Christian (0.5%) minorities.
Certain animist practices of old indigenous religions
survive
Religions in Nepal are
Hinduism
Buddhishm
Tantrism
Islam
and Christianity
