General introduction of Nepali society

         The geographical features of Nepal have been decisive is shaping its socio cultural. Its various distinctive cultures and language are products of different ecological zones and its isolation. However isolation was been because Nepalese people could protect their distinctive cultural life for a long period of time. Geographically Nepal is forest-bound mountainous country. It is surrounded by Plains Indian borders Nepal in the south and China borders the country in the north. Life in the mountains the Himalayas and in hill is very difficult.

The Tarai occupies the southern musts part of the country and consists of deep alluvial material. The Tarai is known as the granary of Nepal. Because of dense forests like charkoshe jhadi malaria used to be a nuisance however now the region hosts many different ethnic caste / groups who have come from the hills and mountains. The mountains, hill and forest have proved a natural bulwark for Nepal against foreign invasion.   

The self-sufficiency of the valley then turned toward art, literature and craftsmanship. The valley then was the center of social, cultural and political activities. The aroused of jealousy in outsiders, who attacked the valley several times and looted many valuable things. The difference in climate between the hills, mountain and the Terai also marks the difference of social customs, usages and values. People in the north and valley wear warm woolen dresses like bhoto, coats and so on. Terai people wear light cool and loose dresses such as dhoti kurta and so on. Meat and alcohol are very common. In houses types, ornaments, hair style and other social cultural phenomena are different.

Because of the lack of enough evidence it is difficult to say much about the earliest inhabitants of Nepal society. If we look at the present make up of the ethnic and cast structure of Nepali society, it is composed of three major groups which is given below:-

Hindu Group: - Barhmin, Chhetri and untouchable, except some parts of the northern Himalayan region these are distributed throughout the kingdom.

Ethnic Tribal Group: - Traditionally these had a distinct inhabitant in various ecological zones of Nepal. After 1990, they become distributed throughout Nepal.

Other: - Mostly in the Terain and in Kathmandu including Muslims, Christian and Sikhs is the distinct religious group. The people of the northern valley follow Tibetan cultural traditions regarding language, religion and economic. Their lifestyle is similar to those of Tibetan people in many respects because of the geographical proximity and origin. At the other extreme the people of the Terai except the Tharus are oriented towards the culture and economic of the Genetic plain. The temperature highland are the natural home land of the Tebeto-Burman people who speak their own dialects.  The caste –stratified Paharis who speak Nepali are widely distributed in the lower sub- tropical zones. Prior to the arrival of the Hindus from the eastern and western parts of the Himalayas, the Hills include the Gurung and Magar in the central hills the Tamangs are the most prevalent, followed by the Rai and Limbu ethnic groups in eastern Nepal.

The main casts and their culture, society and lifestyle are given below: -