Nepal is located in South Asia. It shares territorial borders with India and China with an area of 147,181 square kilometers and a population of approximately 26.5 million. Kathmandu is the nation’s capital and the largest metropolitan city. Previously a Hindu Kingdom, Nepal was declared a secular country in 2007. Nevertheless, Nepal offers a unique place of pilgrimage not only for the Hindus but also for Buddhists and other religions. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, lies in Nepal. Buddha is known as the apostle of peace and compassion all over the world.
Nepal is home to festivals and celebrations as it hosts various caste and ethnic groups. Some parts of the kingdom celebrate festivals every day around the year. Festivals may be linked with the remembrance of the departed soul, heralding the different seasons, marking the beginning or end of the agricultural cycle, as well as national events, or it may just be a family celebration. On a festive day, the Nepali take their ritual bath, worship different gods and goddesses, visit temples, observe fasting and organize a feast. The most important aspect of Nepali culture is the religious harmony and understanding, prevailing among Hindu, Buddhist, and other religions; and ethnic groups.
