Nepal: an ethno-religious mosaic

Abstract

Situated in the Himalayas between India and China, Nepal remained unavailable to Westerners and inaccessible to scientific research until the middle of the last century. Thanks to its special geographical location and long-term isolation, a multi-component religious picture has been preserved in the country. Hinduism, closely intertwined with Buddhism, has long occupied a dominant position in the country. There are local cults that until recently retained archaic features. In the areas bordering Tibet, adherents of the ancient Bon religion live. Alien religions — Christianity and Islam — also appeared sporadically in the country. Nepal's complex religious mosaic is complemented by a variegated ethnic picture: in a relatively small territory there are about 60 peoples and ethnic groups speaking approximately 120 languages and dialects. This ethno-religious situation makes Nepal a unique religious reserve. Unfortunately, this topic has not received due attention in Russian religious studies.

The purpose of this article is to consider the ethno-confessional mosaic of modern Nepal, to partially fill the gap in our knowledge about this country and to awaken specialists» interest in it. In Nepal, declared a secular state under the 2015 constitution, religions still maintain a strong position and play an important role in various spheres of life of its people, so this topic remains constantly relevant.