ABOUT NEPAL
Well, Nepal is an ancient land of snow-covered peaks and amazing people. Twenty-eight distinct ranges of the Himalayan mountain chain traverse this tiny nation nestled between India and (Tibet) China. Nepal boasts eight of the world's ten highest summits, including Mt. Everest (8,850 m). Nepal is the world's only Hindu state, with 86% of its some 26.5 million people practicing Hinduism. Nepal is one of the world’s poorest nations, with 42% of the population living below the poverty line, and 45% are illiterate. Political reform in 1990 created a multi-party democracy within a constitutional monarchy.
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references Asia:
Area: 147,800 sq km. Land: 136,800
sq km , Water: 4,000 sq km
Area: Comparative slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries total: 2,926 km border
Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to
subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain: Terai or flat river plain
of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty,
small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore Land use:
Environment - current issues: deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and
lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes,
agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular
emissions.
Environment - international agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified Marine Life Conservation.
Geography - note: landlocked, strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the world's highest peak - on the border with Tibet, China.
THE HISTORY OF NEPALI CHRISTIANITY NEEDS OF GOSPEL
During
the 18th century, few catholic monks from Rome came to Nepal and met with the then ruling Malla kings and with their permission started evangelizing the
people in the Kathmandu Valley. History tells us that during this period of
evangelism of 54 years, around 600 Nepalese (Newars) were converted and
Churches were established in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.
Having a very brief Christian history, Nepali Churches could be compared to the
Churches of Bible where people worshipped the Lord and believed in Him despite
of severe persecution from home, family and the laws of the land. Nepali
Christians are among the least privileged group of people in the country even
though they have been evangelizing in the true spirit of God and discipleship.
The number of Christians is ever increasing and almost all Churches are
involved with evangelism. Traditional, liberal Christianity has no place in Nepal because almost all believers educated or less educated work under the power and influence
of the Holy Spirit.
In Nepal, the Churches have played a significant role in evangelism and the spread of Christianity. Most of the Churches in Nepal are evangelical and are actively involved in evangelism. Besides, God has also done a lot of miracles among the sick people who later have proved to be good evangelists among their group and family.
MEANINGFUL MESSAGE OF
CHRIST FOR NON-CHRISTIANS
Nepali people are by nature very religious and fatalistic. They have deep faith in their personal good works and merits they can earn through good works (karma). Most of the people are Hindus. It is very important that we contextualize the teachings of the Bible to our society and its beliefs. There is great diversity among our people with more than 40 ethnic groups. The people living in various part of the country like in terai, Mountains, plains, etc. also differ in their outlook and way of thinking.
RESPONSIBLITY FOR US SAME OF CHRIST
The Christian history tells us Church or Christian has existed in Nepal for only 50 years, although attempts were made to bring the Word of God to Nepal in the 19th Century. William Carey translated the New Testament into Nepali in 1821, and the whole Bible was finally translated in 1914.
The Church in Nepal has grown steadily, and by some estimates evangelical Christians are now almost 2% of the population. Though there has been more religious freedom since 1991, proselytizing is still illegal. Christian publishing is permitted. - Source: Anneta Vyssotskaia. If we see this status then also we have big burden to reach the big percent of lost people. Yours prayer and support will turn the Nepal into Christ. Please read and keep your fervent prayers. Thanks
FACTS ABOUT NEPAL
Geography
|
Location |
The kingdom of Nepal lies between 80º 4' and 88º 12' east longitude and 26º 22' north latitude. It borders with China in the North and India in the South. |
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Area |
1,47,181 sq. Kms. |
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Altitude |
Varies from 70 to 8848 meters. |
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Capital |
Kathmandu. |
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Population |
18.5 million (as of 1993) almost 28 million now |
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Language |
Nepali, the national language is the common language in Nepal. However different ethnic groups have their own mother languages like Tamang, Gurung, Newari, Maithili, Sherpa, Bhojpuri, Rai Tharu etc. |
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Population Density |
122 per sq. Kms. |
Hinduism and Buddhism are two major religions of Nepal. Hindus and Buddhist are tolerant to each other and the both religious group worship each other’s deities and observe festivals, traditional customs and rites of both religious group in Nepal, followed by Muslims, Jains and Christians.
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Nature |
Himalayan Hilly Terai
Himalayan Region – 15 percent of the total land of the country are covered with snow capped mountains in the northern part and altitude ranges from 4,877 to 8,848 meters including 8 peaks above the 8,000 meters namely Mt Everest (8,848m), Kanchanjungha (8,586), Lhotse (8,516), Makalu (8,463m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m) and Annapurna I (8,091 m).
Hilly Region – 68 percent of the total land of the country are covered by the hills and mountains in the central part of Nepal. Altitude varies from 610 to 4,877 meters in this region.
Terai Region- In the southern part, the plain area of Terai region covers the 17 percent of the total land of the country.
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People |
People of Nepal can be divided into two distinct group,
the Aryans and the Mongolians. And three are many different ethnic groups in Nepal living in different part of the country with their own unique cultures, languages and
religions.
The ethnic group of Magars, Rais, Sunuwars and Gurungs live in the eastern
mountains observing their own culture and speaking their own culture and
speaking their own mother languages. By tradition, most Gurkha soldiers come
from these ethnic groups and are famous for the bravery in the battles.
Sherpas, inhabitants of the Northern Himalayan region are influenced with the
Tibetan culture. The Sherpas are famous in the world for mountaineering.The
Newars constitute the important ethnic group in the Kathmandu valley. The
Newars are rich in culture and famous for their craftsmanship. There are many
artistic pagodas, monuments and old palaces in the Kathmandu valley built by
the Newars. The ethnic group of Tharus, Maithili, Bhojpuri Danuwar etc live in
the Terai region.The Brahman and Chhetris also play an important role in
Nepalese Society. These groups are originally from the west Nepal and now inhabit the most of all the parts of the country.Tamangs live outside the rim of the Kathmandu valley. The Thakalis inhabitant in the northwest part, upper the Kali Gandaki
Rivers. The Thakalis were considered to be expert traders in the past.Apart
from the above, there are still many other ethnic group in Nepal and all of these groups are tied up together by their common ideals of peace and
nationalism.
CURRENCY – Currency of Nepal is known as Rupee which comes in notes of 1,2,5,10,20,25,50,100,500and 1000. Coins known as paisa comes in 5,10,25,50 and 100.Rupees coins are also used; 1,2,5,and 10.One Nepali Rupee is made up of 100 paisa. Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign exchange dealers.
TIME – Nepal Time is 5 hour 45 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time.
WEEKEND – Saturday is the official holiday in Nepal.
ELECTRIC CURRENT – 220 Volts/50 cycles. Most of the villages, cities of the kingdom are accessed with electricity.