Culture: Essential for People, Unique to Society.

Culture is defined as the customs, ideas, and social behavior that describes a people of a given society or community. It is the set of attributes that are unique to the daily life of a given society. The culture that is practiced among people is as a result of the activities they have been carrying out for quite a long time. Therefore, it becomes part and parcel of their life, hence their culture. Culture is essential to its people in different ways, which illustrates the need to highlight it in various societies. First, it gives people a sense of identity; because of the unique cultural attributes that are appreciated. Moreover, it is of considerable significance because it is is the basis of the various qualities to which a culture is described. There are multiple attributes of a culture that highlight its importance. First, there are symbols that the culture uses. That is the description of the numerous nonverbal communication that is used to convey meaning. The language of the people, their religion, cultural events, and food are some of the other cultural attributes that underline the importance of culture. In this case, there is the culture of Nepal, which has various characteristics that can be analyzed. The reason for choosing the lifestyle in Nepal is because of the unique attributes that are associated with it, which are quite impressive. The culture was analyzed based on secondary sources, which describe the literature in detail. That is because other parties were also interested in knowing more about the culture.

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Religion

Religion is the description of a unique style of worship and faith, which people worship a supreme being. Religion is based on the worship and belief of the supernatural being, which in the long run, shapes the various aspects of the life that the people live. In Nepal, they have a unique type of culture, which is responsible for their kind of worship and faith. Nepal is a democratic society, which means the people are free to make their individual decisions regarding their religious choices. Therefore, Nepal is multi-religious in nature, but few religions are dominant. Furthermore, the people are from different ethnic backgrounds, which informs their religious choices. In Nepal, 80 percent of the population practices the Hindu religion. Then there is 10 percent of the people that are affiliated with Buddhism. Furthermore, there is 4 percent of the people being Muslim, and the rest are distributed among other religions. The religion in Nepal is concentrated in some geographical regions (van, 1978). For example, the Hindu religion is practiced in the eastern, northern, and western areas, which is the most significant part of Nepal. The Himalayas region has its people practicing Buddhism. Then, several towns are Muslim strongholds and other minor religions in Nepal.

The other religions include Christianity, Animism, and ancestor worship, Jainism, Bon, and Sikhism. The religion that is practiced in Nepal informs their practices, for example, the food they eat and the animals they are supposed to kill. There are nine animals that their religion allows them to slaughter, which is consistent with their religious beliefs. In Nepal, it is believed that the two-parent religions were Buddhism and Hindu, which describes their dominance in society. The two religions have various attributes in stock, which informs the fact that they were the most dominant as the people were more comfortable interrelating as they practiced them. Although there are multiple religious groups in Nepal, they coexist peacefully, which is part of their cultural preferences. Nepal thrives under the spirit of unity and diversity among its people. That is whereby, despite the differences, people respect each other and live peacefully.

Food

The other significant aspect of the Nepalese culture is their food. The food that the people in the culture eat is influenced by the food they grow in Nepal. That then turns out to be their staple food because of its availability in large quantities. Furthermore, the ethnicity in Nepal influences its choices of food; because all have their preferences, influenced by their economic activities and agriculture. Rice is the staple food in ethic Nepal, because of its availability in large quantities. There are irrigation schemes in most areas; which support its growth in the region. Furthermore, there is the other option of staple foods for different communities. That includes, but is not limited to, finger millet, maize, barley buckwheat, and proso millet. The staple food by the various ethnicities is influenced by their climate, which supports the different types of food that they prefer. In Nepal, rice is perceived as a rich man's food and is preferred by most people on that basis. That is despite the availability of other foods that are more nutritious and readily available for the people. Furthermore, the food in Nepal includes aquatic cuisine such as snails, fish, crabs, and prawns. That is because of their availability and perceived nutritious value. In addition to the food varieties available locally in Nepal, there is trading, which adds to the types of food that is available for consumption. Various spices are available in Nepal, which is added to the food to make it more appealing, which is part of the food culture in Nepal.

One of the most critical aspects of the food culture in Nepal is its spices, which are used to add taste to the food. There is a variety of spices; which are accommodated by the type of climate in Nepal. One of the most common ingredients that are used across Nepal is lentils, chili, and pepper. That is because it is added to the various varieties of food that the people of Nepal enjoy. The staple food of the Nepalese people is rice, which is not taken on its own. The compliments that are taken with the rice must have flavor, used over a long time in Nepal. Therefore, there are spices such as garlic, cumin, and coriander. The other type of food that is eaten in the Nepalese culture is yogurt. That is because some of the people in Nepal are dairy farmers (Tamang, 2001). Therefore, from the milk that is produced, they make yogurt, which is beneficial because of its nutritious benefits. Furthermore, the yogurt is great for the people in Nepal because of its adaptability in many ways. That is because it can be used as the primary food, or as a compliment like a dessert. That has the effect of increasing the magnitude of its consumption among the people in Nepal.

The other popular food that is made out of rice is Pulao, which owes to the fact that rice is available in significant quantities. However, Pulao is not unique to Nepal, as it is a delicacy that is enjoyed by most cultures in Asian countries. Pulao is made out of fried rice, with the addition of various ingredients that are consistent with the preferences of the people in Nepal. There is vegetable Pulao, which also has a long history among the people of Nepal. It is made out of Pulao, with an addition of some vegetables. Moreover, it is seasoned with cumin and turmeric, which is a preference in the Nepalese culture. Various accompaniments go along the pulao, which include papadams, yogurt, and flavors that are of favorite among people at social events. Therefore, it is evident that the Nepalese culture has a rich heritage when it comes to their food as a cultural perspective.

Language

Language is the other most important aspect of the culture in Nepal; because it is unique. Various languages are used in Nepal as a means of communication for a long time. One hundred twenty-three languages are used in Nepal, but Nepali is regarded as the country's official language. That is because it is used by far more people, and is used in most official communication. Therefore, because of the convenience that it helps create among the people, it is identified as the official language. Nepali is also used in India, which is regarded as a lingua franca He another language that is used among the people in Nepal is Maithili. It is the second most popular language there, as more people use it, just after the official language (Dixit et al., 2002). Approximately 12 percent of the people in Nepal use the language, which highlights its significance. Other regional languages are used by the people in Nepal, such as Newar, Tharu, Gurung, Tamang, among many others. Lastly, there are Austroasiatic Languages that are used in Nepal, which are Santali and Mundari. That is the highlight of the languages that are used in Nepalese culture.

Conclusion

Culture is an essential aspect among people because of the unique attributes that each culture is associated with. In this case, the Nepalese culture is described under different headings. That is their food, religion, and languages that they use in their daily lives. The various aspects of The Nepalese culture shape the life that the people live; through their economic activities, education, and diet. The culture is unique; because of the activities, the people engage in and the environment where they live. However, culture is likely to change over time because of the change in the nature of activities that people undertake overtime. However, the major aspect of the culture, such as their religion and languages, are most likely to remain constant. Through the experience of studying the culture in Nepal, I have gained knowledge of factors that contribute to the unique aspects of the culture. Furthermore, it has increased my intercultural competence as a result of more knowledge about a new culture.

References

Dixit, K. M., & Ramachandran, S. (Eds.). (2002). State of Nepal. Kathmandu: Himal Books. https://www.pitzer.edu/study-abroad/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2014/12/05-Pradhan-Ethnicity-Caste.pdf

Tamang, J. P. (2001). Food culture in the Eastern Himalayas. Journal of Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation, 5(3-4), 107-118. http://www.himalayanresearch.org/pdf/2000-2002/Vol05%20N3-4final.pdf#page=113

van Kooij, K. R. (1978). Religion in Nepal. Brill. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=etUPA-arhwMC&oi=fnd&pg=PP13&dq=religion+in+nepal+&ots=vhutv7WIqT&sig=eL4TDPRGExUrvB9e-nG8UNJGB6o&redir_esc=y