culture

 Heritage of Nepal -Boudha Nath Temple

         Three miles east of Kathmandu lies Boudha.There is the famous ancient buddhist stupa which resembls the Swyambhu stupa.As the mythology runs,it took 12 years to complete the construction of this chaitya.This buddhist stupa,one of the highest in the world,was constructed during the reign of King Mana Dev of the Lichhavi Period.When this chaitya was under construction there was no rainfall in the valley of Kathmandu continuously for 12 years.And the clay had to be moistened for use in it's construction. Some historians claim that this stupa is 2000 years old.

       The watchful four pairs of eyes as depicted in the four cardinal sides of this chaitya,the buddhist Prayer-wheel around its base and the murmuring prayer of "Oum Mani Padme Hum" of Lama priests(Abbot) (Popularly known as the chiniya Lama) is Mr.Punya Bajra who surprises tourists with his misterious Yeti(snow man) lore.

culture

Protection and inheritance of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tibet

           Since the 1980s, the Tibet Autonomous Region and each prefecture and city under it have set up institutions to rescuee,sort out and study Tibetan cultural heritage,and successively sent our investigation teams to make comprehansive investigations and conduct interviews in the urban areas, villages and temple. In 2007 Tibet also intensified its efforts to protect the intangible cultural heritage,preserve and spread excellent traditional culture.The culture administretive departments sent a large number of staff member to various parts of Tibet, interviewing folk hanhicraftsman,transcribing audio and visual materials, taking photos and publishing academic papers related to Tibetan traditional culturel as well as monographs regarding the Tibetan culture.

         In future Tibet will establish the system for intangible cultural heritage protection and development, fully implementing projects concerning the protection and construction of intangible cultural heritage.Efforts will also be made to conduct the general survey work regarding intangible cultural heritage and set up archives and databanks.On such a base, Tibet will also make efforts to gradually establish the system of classified protection,strengthening research,cognizance,preservation ans inheritance work.

culture

Protection of Cultural Relics in Tibet

           Tibet is one of the provincial-level relions in China richly endowed with historical and cultural relics.A rough calculation shows that there are more than 2,000 cultural relics sites in the region,including 35 under state protection,48 under regional protection and 168 under prefectural and country level protection. Lhasa City,Xigaze City and Gyangze country seats are rated by the State Council as national historical and cultural cities subject to special protection. And the Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery and Norbu Lingka have been listed as UNESCO world cultural heritage sites.The past 20 years saw investment of over 600 million yuan by the state,effectively protecting the important historical and cultural heritage sites in Tibet.

     In 2007 with a total investment of 330 million yuan, the project for protection of the three cultural relics-the potala Palace,Norbu Lingka and Sagya Monastery- went smoothly.So far,256 million yuan has been spent for the project accumulatively,accounting for 77 percent of the total investment of the project with is planned to be completed in 2008.

culture

Festival of Indra Jatra

           The people of kathmandu celebrate the religious festival of Indra jatra to mark the occasion of Lord Indra's(the God of Heavens)visit.This festival is celebrated by erecting a wooden pole at Basantapur,the heart of Kathmandu.The festival lasts for eight day. People eat Samayabaji is include betten rice with fired meat(Chawayala),Green vegetable(Tukancha) black soyabean(Haku Musaya),some peces of ginger,dry fish,hen's egg,sweet(Geery) ect.People enjoyed with white wine in their meal.On that occasion chariots of Kumari,the Virgin and living Goddess,Ganesh, the God of prosperity and Bhairab,the God of war,are drawn around the city of kathmandu.His Majesty the King also graces the the celebration of the Indra jatra at Basantapur Darbar.Thefestival is specially noted for the echoes of drums and dancing feet of the masked dancers almost every evening.

culture

Festival of Red Machehhendra nath Rath Jatra

          The image of Machehhendranath was set up in Nepal by the Lichchhavi King Narandra Dev in the 8th century.the Machehhendranath temple(a pagoda styled one)was built in1408 A.D. In 1667 King Sreenivas malla started the machehhendranath cart-festival. This fastival is the biggest socio-cultural event of Patan.The wheeled chariot of adeity know as Bungdyo or Red Machehhendranath is made at Pulchowk.It is take 15days to make the Rath,after complited the Rath it dragged through the city of Patan in several stages likes Gabahal,Sundhara,Lagankhel and Jawalakhel the grand finale of the festival is caiied the Bhoto Jatra or the 'showing of avest' of machehhendranath.His Majesty the king,Pri Miminister and other Goverment staff also graces the celebration of the Bhoto Jatra.The ancient Gorkha Arme Band also paticipated and give Salame in this festival.After finishing the Jatra Machehhendranath's image had returing to Bunghamati temple.People celebrate this festival with paticipated the Rath jatra and invited to our relative in their house and enjoyed eating and drinking.

culture

The Festival of Tihar

       Nepal has many festivals.One of them is the Tihar is celebrated for five days hence it is also called Panchak.It may be called the festivals of lights.Light are a prominent feature of this festival.People keep lights burning in their house at night.People decorate their house with flowers, pictuered and festoons.

       The first days of the festival is called the crow festival.Second day dog festivals,third day called Laxmi Puja.Laxmi is worshipped on this day Laxmi is the Goddess of fortune and wealth.The fourth day of the festival is known as the cow festival.The cow is worshipped on this day.The cow is the useful animal.The fifth day of the festival is called the Brother's festival(Bhai Tika).Sister worship their brother on this day and give them presents.The Tihar is a festival of great rejoicing.People keep their house neat and clean.They eat sweets and fruts.

culture

The Festivalof Dashain

         We have many festivals in our country. The Dashain is the greatest of our festivales.It is celebrated for ten days.Goddess Durga is worshipped in this festival.She is worshipped for nine days.This period is called Navaratri(nine night).During the Navaratri people worship the image of Durga at home.They alsivivit temple of the Goddess Durga is considered shakti(power).She signifies thevictory of God over Evel.People sacrifice birds and animals and make othes offerings.The chean their houses and put on new clothes.People take rest from work and pass the time in merry-making.Schools,campuses,offices and bussiness concerns remain closed.The superiours put Tika on their foreheads and Jamara on their head and bless them.

       Vijay Dashami is a time of showing good will and bestowing blessing. People forget their illfeeling and quarrels and welcame one another.