Hinduism in Nepal

Hinduism is the major religion of Nepal. In the 2001 census, approximately 95.6 percent of the Nepalese people identified themselves as Hindus. Buddhists constitute 10.7% while Muslims are minority. The remainder followed other religions, including Christianity. The national calendar of Nepal, Bikram Sambat (B.S.), is a solar Hindu calendar essentially the same to that widespread in North India as a religious calendar, and is based on Vedic principles of time-keeping.
The geographical distribution of religious groups revealed a preponderance of Hindus, accounting for at least 87 percent of the population in every region. Among the Tibeto-Nepalese, those most influenced by Hinduism were the Magar, Sunwar, and Rai peoples. 
==Hindu Foundation of the Kingdom of Nepal==
Historians and local traditions say that a Hindu sage named "Ne" established himself in the valley of Kathmandu during prehistoric times, and that the word "Nepal" means the place protected ("pala" in Sanskrit) by the sage Ne.W.B., P. 34 Land of the Gurkhas He performed religious ceremonies at Teku, the confluence of the Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers.The Ancient Period According to legend he selected a pious cowherd to be the first of the many kings of the Gopala Dynasty. These rulers are said to have ruled Nepal for over 500 years. Balfour, P. 195 Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia, : He selected Bhuktaman to be the first king in the line of the Gopal (Cowherd) Dynasty. The Silncan Gopal dynasty ruled for 621 years. Yakshya Gupta was the last king of this dynasty.
According to Skanda Purana, a rishi called "Ne" or "Nemuni" used to live in Himalaya.Alone In Kathmandu In the Pashupati Purana, he is mentioned as a saint and a protector. Prasad, P. 4 The life and times of Maharaja Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana of Nepal He is said to have practiced penance at the Bagmati and Kesavati rivers Khatri, P. 16 The Postage Stamps of Nepal and to have taught his doctrines there too.
==Hindu Symbolism of Nepal==
The pennant is an important Hindu flag that is help atop Hindu temples. 
It is believed that Lord Vishnu had organized the Nepali people and given them this flag, with the sun and moon as emblems on it. Gorkhapatra Corporation The Nepalese Perspective In a Hindu Purana, it is written that it was Lord Shiva who handed the flag to Lord Vishnu, and then Lord Vishnu to Lord Indra, for the purpose for battling demons. P. 10 The Lotus & the Flame: An Account on Nepalese Culture By Dhooswan Saymi, Dhūsvāṃ Sāyami 
Nepalese royalty, including Lord Buddha have always been viewed as avatars (or incarnations) of god Vishnu.
===List of Festivals in Nepal===
* Mata Tirtha Snan (Mother's Day)
* Buddha Jayanti
* Ghanta Karna Chaturdasi
* Janai Purnima,Rakshya Bandhan,Khumbeshwor Mela Patan
* Gaijatra
* Shree Krishna Janmastami
* Gokarna Aunsi (Father's Day)
* Teej Ko Darkhane Din
* Indrajatra(Holiday Only in Kathmandu)
* Dashain Holidays
* Tihar Holidays
* Maghe Sankranti
* Shree Panchami
* Maha Shiva Ratri
* Fagun Purnima (Holi)
* Ghode Jatra 
* Shree Ram Nawami
* Bagh Jatra 
* Bhairav Kumari Jatra
* Chaite Dasain 
* Gaura Parva 
* Gunla 
* Guru Purnima 
* Rato Macchendranath Jatra
* Mani Rimdu 
* Mata-yaa 
* Neel Barahi Pyakhan
* Rath Yatra 
* Sita Vivaha Panchami
* Tamu Dhee 
* Tansen Jatra 
* Taya Macha 
* Yomari Punhi
==Hindu-Buddhist Syncretism==
However, there has traditionally been a great deal of intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Many of the people regarded as Hindus in the 1981 census could also in some senses be called Buddhists. Hindus long have worshipped at Buddhist temples and Buddhists at Hindu temples. The reason for this is that both Hinduism and Buddhism have common roots as dharmic religions, and over most of their history have not been seen as separate communions, but rather rival tendencies within a shared religious tradition. Because of such dual faith practices (or mutual respect), the differences between Hindus and Buddhists have been very subtle and academic in nature; Hindus and Buddhists have never engaged in any religious conflicts for past millennia.
==Demographics==
===Hindu population for various ethnic groups===
Nepal 	Total 	Hindushttp://www.cbs.gov.np/Population/Monograph/Chapter%2003%20%20Social%20Composition%20of%20the%20Population.pdf	Hindu%
Chhetri 	3,593,496 	3,574,976 	99.48%
Bhahman-Hill 	2,896,477 	2,887,317 	99.68%
Magar 	1,622,421 	1,210,276 	74.60%
Tharu 	1,533,879 	1,497,516 	97.63%
Tamang 	1,282,304 	98,593 	7.69%
Newar 	1,245,232 	1,047,561 	84.13%
Muslim 	971,056 	21,265 	2.19%
Kami 	895,954 	866,296 	96.69%
Yadav 	895,423 	893,427 	99.78%
Rai 	635,151 	158,803 	25.00%
Gurung 	543,571 	156,263 	28.75%
Damai/Dholi 	390,305 	381,739 	97.81%
Limbu 	359,379 	40,675 	11.32%
Thakuri 	334,120 	332,107 	99.40%
Sarki 	318,989 	312,277 	97.90%
Teli 	304,536 	302,056 	99.19%
Harijan 	269,661 	266,568 	98.85%
Koiri 	251,274 	250,705 	99.77%
Kurmi 	212,842 	212,493 	99.84%
Sanyasi 	199,127 	197,554 	99.21%
Dhanuk 	188,150 	187,680 	99.75%
Musahar 	172,434 	169,884 	98.52%
Dusadh 	158,525 	157,682 	99.47%
Sherpa 	154,622 	9,683 	6.26%
Sonar 	145,088 	142,482 	98.20%
Kewat 	136,953 	136,371 	99.58%
Brahmantarai 	134,496 	133,932 	99.58%
Baniya 	126,971 	126,108 	99.32%
Gharti/Bhujel 	117,568 	113,458 	96.50%
Mallah 	115,986 	114,980 	99.13%
Kalwar 	115,606 	115,252 	99.69%
Kumal 	99,389 	97,818 	98.42%
Hajam/Thakur 	98,169 	97,768 	99.59%
Kanu 	95,826 	95,718 	99.89%
Rajbansi 	95,812 	81,580 	85.15%
Sunuwar 	95,254 	75,726 	79.50%
Sudhi 	89,846 	89,554 	99.67%
Lohar 	82,637 	82,454 	99.78%
Tatma 	76,512 	76,351 	99.79%
Khatwe 	74,972 	74,561 	99.45%
Dhobi 	73,413 	73,011 	99.45%
Mahji 	72,614 	59,302 	81.67%
Nuniya 	66,873 	66,433 	99.34%
Kumhar 	54,413 	53,972 	99.19%
Danuwar 	53,229 	52,833 	99.26%
Chepang 	52,237 	36,685 	70.23%
Haluwai 	50,583 	50,268 	99.38%
Rajput 	48,454 	48,126 	99.32%
Kayastha 	46,071 	45,556 	98.88%
Badhae 	45,975 	45,756 	99.52%
Marwadi 	43,971 	41,718 	94.88%
Santhal/Sattar 	42,698 	35,463 	83.06%
Jhagar/Dhagar 	41,764 	38,752 	92.79%
Bantar 	35,839 	35,069 	97.85%
Barae 	35,434 	35,398 	99.90%
Kahar 	34,531 	34,491 	99.88%
Gangai 	31,318 	30,830 	98.44%
Lodha 	24,738 	24,693 	99.82%
Rajbhar 	24,263 	24,119 	99.41%
Thami 	22,999 	12,819 	55.74%
Dhimal 	19,537 	11,216 	57.41%
Bhote 	19,261 	7,300 	37.90%
Bing/Binda 	18,720 	18,697 	99.88%
Bhediyar/Gaderi	17,729 	17,675 	99.70%
Nurang 	17,522 	17,267 	98.54%
Yakkha 	17,003 	2,410 	14.17%
Darai 	14,859 	14,546 	97.89%
Tajpuriya 	13,250 	8,500 	64.15%
Thakali 	12,973 	4,389 	33.83%
Chidimar 	12,296 	12,209 	99.29%
Pahari 	11,505 	9,077 	78.90%
Mali 	11,390 	11,365 	99.78%
Bangali 	9,860 	9,566 	97.02%
Chantel 	9,814 	3,021 	30.78%
Dom 	8,931 	8,863 	99.24%
Kamar 	8,761 	8,586 	98.00%
Bote 	7,969 	7,855 	98.57%
Brahmu 	7,383 	5,319 	72.04%
Gaine 	5,887 	5,711 	97.01%
Jirel 	5,316 	561 	10.55%
Adibasi 	5,259 	5,056 	96.14%
Dura 	5,169 	979 	18.94%
Churaute 	4,893 	292 	5.97%
Badi 	4,442 	4,390 	98.83%
Meche 	3,763 	3,021 	80.28%
Lepcha 	3,660 	279 	7.62%
Halkhor 	3,621 	3,597 	99.34%
Punjabi/Sikh 	3,054 	2,464 	80.68%
Kisan 	2,876 	2,750 	95.62%
Raji 	2,399 	2,119 	88.33%
Byangsi 	2,103 	2,062 	98.05%
Yayu 	1,821 	1,280 	70.29%
Koche 	1,429 	1,397 	97.76%
Dhunia 	1,231 	1,146 	93.10%
Walung 	1,148 	946 	82.40%
Jaine 	1,015 	357 	35.17%
Munda 	660 	521 	78.94%
Raute 	658 	548 	83.28%
Yehlmo 	579 	9 	1.55%
Patharkatta 	552 	551 	99.82%
Kusunda 	164 	160 	97.56%
Other Dalit 	173,401 	169,662 	97.84%
Other Caste 	231,641 	209,499 	90.44%
Total 	22,736,934	18,330,121 	80.62%
===Hindu population for each district===
District 	% Hinduwww.cbs.gov.np/Population/National%20Report%202001/tab18.htm
Jajarkot 	99.85%
Baitadi 	99.85%
Bajhang 	99.83%
Kalikot 	99.78%
Dadeldhura 	99.78%
Bajura 	99.77%
Kanchanpur 	99.15%
Achham 	98.78%
Darchula 	98.72%
Dailekh 	98.32%
Rukum 	98.29%
Jumla 	97.90%
Kailali 	97.56%
Doti 	97.49%
Arghakhanchi 	96.95%
Pyuthan 	96.71%
Dang 	96.48%
Gulmi 	96.10%
Bardiya 	95.17%
Salyan 	94.43%
Surkhet 	91.20%
Siraha 	90.88%
Dhanusa 	90.08%
Bhaktapur 	89.87%
Saptari 	88.44%
Palpa 	88.02%
Parbat 	87.77%
Nawalparasi 	87.23%
Sarlahi 	86.74%
Mugu 	86.44%
Syangja 	86.07%
Rupandehi 	85.34%
Humla 	84.40%
Mahottari 	84.39%
Baglung 	83.30%
Tanahu 	83.16%
Chitawan 	82.75%
Parsa 	82.37%
Bara 	81.94%
Kaski 	81.72%
Kapilbastu 	81.06%
Morang 	80.12%
Jhapa 	79.37%
Rautahat 	78.96%
Banke 	78.49%
Sunsari 	77.09%
Rolpa 	75.49%
Kathmandu 	75.49%
Udayapur 	75.43%
Myagdi 	74.88%
Dhading 	73.89%
Okhaldhunga 	73.86%
Gorkha 	72.79%
Dolakha 	72.43%
Lalitpur 	70.43%
Sindhuli 	68.56%
Ramechhap 	68.06%
Kavrepalanchok	64.77%
Sindhupalchok 	62.53%
Nuwakot 	61.32%
Khotang 	60.54%
Dolpa 	60.35%
Lamjung 	58.47%
Bhojpur 	53.77%
Terhathum 	51.27%
Dhankuta 	49.52%
Makwanpur 	49.36%
Ilam 	47.28%
Sankhuwasabha 	46.95%
Solukhumbu 	42.91%
Taplejung 	36.52%
Panchthar 	34.20%
Rasuwa 	33.10%
Manang 	25.35%
Mustang 	25.28%
==References==
*Devghat
==External links==
===Nepali Priests===
*Acharya Keshavasharana 
*Jagadguru Kripali Parishat
===Nepali Organization===
*Shree Krishna Pranami Youth Council Nepal
*Shree Radha Madhava Samiti Nepal
*Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir Nepal
===Nepali Temples===
*Janaki Temple Birthplace of Shri Seeta Devi
*Maharshi Sant Sevi Temples in Nepal
*Shiva Kailash Kala Mandir
===Other Worship===
*Durga Puja in Nepal
===News===
*Nepal Hindus in secular protest
*Nepal Maoists disrupt Hindu meet
*Hindu fears over secular Nepal
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Category:Religion in Nepal
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Category:Hinduism in Nepal