Research on Nepal

 The People
I would like to start off with a few interesting facts about Nepal. Nepal has it's own calendar and their new year is around the middle of April. They also consider cows to be sacred so you can not touch them or point a foot at them. Also, personal privacy is not common so to spend time alone is unheard of.
Language
Their official language is an Indo-Aryan tongue related to Hindi, almost 48 percent speak Nepali, but most prefer to speak in their native language. There are about 20 to 100 different languages spoken in Nepal. Some of  those include Maithili and Newar. English is also spoken in urban areas and considered the language of instruction and represents better education and status.
Religion 
 81 percent are Hindu, 11 percent Buddhists (Buddhism was abolished), 4 percent is Kirant, 4 percent is Muslim, and less then 1 percent are Christians.
Population
Nepal is comprised of Tibeto-burmese groups who migrated from the north or east. They are Gurung, Magar, Rai, Limbu, Thakali, and Sherpa, among others. Also, Newar and Tharu as well as Indians and Tibetans. Kathmandu has more than one million residents with half of the population lives in the Terai. Most like to live near water sources with some groups shifting from place to place to take advantage of varying climates. Others travel to India for jobs, supplies, and to trade. More than 800,000 Nepalese live abroad.

In Nepal there was a caste system that first was introduced by Hinduism and became law. The different castes are determined by religion and ethnicity. The first caste were the Khas people (Hindu religion and Indo-Aryan ethnicity). The next two castes were people of other ethnicities and religions. And the last caste were Hindus which are viewed as untouchable which was partly determined by occupation. In the 1900's it was abolished, but the upper caste dominate the political system.
General Attitudes 
Nepalese are very religious, family oriented, and modest any rebellion from tradition or caste are frowned upon. Incidents are fate or Karma. They believe that ghosts, evil spirits, witches, and a bad positions of the planets are bad luck and can cause disease, crop failures, and accidents so flowers and and food is offered to pacify the spirits and sometimes a rooster or male goat is sacrificed.
 Attire
 Men wear Western clothing and only on special occasions do they dress traditionally. Traditional clothing is comprised of daura surwal (tight, thin cotton pants and a flowing knee-length cotton tunic). Women wear a sari (long, colorful wraparound dress) and cholo (blouse). Most women wear gold jewelry; some wear nose rings. Married women of Tibetan background wear a bhaku (wraparound jumper) and a colorful apron. Unmarried women wear kurta surwal (colorful pants, tight from the calves down, with a matching knee-length tunic), also called punjabi. Married Hindu women wear a red tika (made from vermilion powder) on their foreheads and vermilion powder in the part of their hair to signify their husbands are alive. Widows do not wear the tika, powder, jewelry, or colorful clothing.

Customs and Courtesies 
Namaste is the most common greeting and parting gesture. A person places the palms together (fingers up) in front of the chest or chin and says Namaste or Namaskar for elders. Men then grasp (not shake) right hands and then clasp it in the left. You also don't Namaste a child unless they do it first. In urban areas you address people by their titles otherwise you address by using terms such as dai (older brother), didi (older sister), bhai (younger brother), and bahini (younger sister).

 It is rude to touch another person's head or shoulders. Men do not touch women in public. But, members of the same sex may publicly express friendship by walking arm in arm or holding hands. One never points the bottom of the foot at another person or uses it to move objects.Pointing with a finger is impolite. Only the right hand is used in gestures, eating, or handling objects.Nepalese do not whistle inside a home or at night, as it is thought to attract spirits. Winking at someone of the opposite sex is vulgar.When passing a temple, a stupa (Buddhist shrine), or a banyan tree, a person will walk around it (if necessary) to keep it on one's right.

Education
Primary school begins at age three. Students are roughly 16 years old when they enter grade 10. At the end of grade 10, students take an exam called the School Leaving Certification (SLC). Grades 11 and 12 are available and are considered upper-secondary levels. After grade 12, students can choose to continue their education or begin a career. Rural areas often do not have enough schools or teachers, and students may have to walk miles to school. Rural girls generally leave school before age 12 to care for younger siblings or to work on the family farm and marriage is considered more important. Education is free, but students must purchase their won books, supplies, and uniforms. English is the language of instruction, technology is rare, and teaching authoritative and instruction is largely memorization. Teachers also have the ability to use physical punishments.