Hinduism in Nepal

Hinduism is the main and largest religion of Nepal. The Constitution of Nepal has established a call for the protection of this age-old religion throughout the country.In 2007 the country declares itself that it is a secular country while some special privileges were also given to Hinduism. According to the 2011 census, the Hindu population in Nepal is estimated to be around 22,493,649 including native kirat Mundhum which have deep roots in Sanatan Dharma and both together accounts for 85% of country's population. The national calendar of Nepal, Vikram Samvat, is a solar Hindu calendar essentially the same to that widespread in North India as a religious calendar, and is based on Hindu units of time.
The geographical distribution of religious groups revealed a preponderance of Hindus, accounting for at least 90 percent of the population in every region. Among Tibeto-Burman-speaking communities in Nepal, those most influenced by Hinduism are the Magars, Sunwar, and Rai people.

Year	Percent	Increase
1952/54	88.87%	-
1961	87.69%	-1.18%
1971	89.39%	+1.70%
1981	89.50%	+0.11%
1991	86.51%	-2.99%
2001	80.62%	-5.89%
2011	85%	+4.38%

Hindu foundation of the [Kingdom of Nepal]

Historians and local traditions say that a Hindu sage named "Ne" established himself in the valley of Kathmandu during prehistoric times, and that the word "Nepal" means the place protected by the sage Ne. He performed religious ceremonies at Teku, the confluence of the Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers. According to legends, he selected a pious cowherd to be the first of the many kings of the Gopala dynasty. These rulers are said to have ruled Nepal for over 500 years. He selected Bhuktaman to be the first king in the line of the Gopal dynasty. The Gopal dynasty ruled for 621 years. Yakshya Gupta was the last king of this dynasty.
According to Skanda Purana, a rishi called "Ne" or "Nemuni" used to live in Himalaya. In the Pashupati Purana, he is mentioned as a saint and a protector. He is said to have practiced penance at the Bagmati and Kesavati rivers and to have taught his doctrines there too.

Hinduization by rulers

Newar-Maithil rulers

According to various historical sources, even though the presence of varna and caste had been known as an element in the social structure of the Kathmandu Valley since the Licchavi period, majority of the residents of the Nepal Valley were for the first time codified into a written code only in the 14th century in the Nepalarastrasastra by the Maithil–origin king Jayasthithi Malla. Jayasthithi Malla, with the aid of five Kānyakubja and Maithil Brahmins whom he invited from the Indian plains, divided the population of the valley into each of four major classes —Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra—derived from the ancient Hindu text Manusmriti and based on individual's occupational roles. The four classes varna encompassed a total of 64 castes jat within it, with the Shudras being further divided into 36 sub-castes.

Khas rulers

After the Gorkhali conquest of Kathmandu valley, King Prithvi Narayan Shah expelled the Christian Capuchin missionaries from Patan and revisioned Nepal as Asal Hindustan. The Tagadharis, thread wearing Hindus of higher categorization, enjoyed the privileged status in the Nepalese capital and more access to the central power after the Gorkhali King Prithvi Narayan's conquest of Kathmandu valley. Since then Hinduisation became the significant policy of the Kingdom of Nepal.
The Nepali civil code Muluki Ain was commissioned by Jung Bahadur Rana after his European tour and enacted in 1854. It was rooted in traditional Hindu Law and codified social practices for several centuries in Nepal. The law also comprised Prāyaścitta and Ācāra. It was an attempt to include the entire Hindu as well as the non-Hindu population of Nepal of that time into a single hierarchic civic code from the perspective of the Khas rulers.

Hindu symbolism of Nepal

The pennant is an important Hindu flag that is help atop Hindu temples.
It is believed that Lord Vishnu had organized the Nepali people and given them their flag, with the sun and moon as emblems on it. In a Hindu Purana, it is written that it was Lord Shiva who handed the flag to Lord Vishnu, and then Lord Vishnu to Lord Indra, for the purpose for battling demons.

List of festivals in Nepal

Dashain
Tihar
Janai Purnima, Rakshya Bandhan, Khumbeshwor Mela Patan
Shree Krishna Janmastami
Maghe Sankranti
Shree Panchami
Maha Shivaratri
Fagu Purnima
Matatirtha Aunsi
Gokarna Aunsi
Buddha Jayanti
Ghanta Karna Chaturdasi
Gaijatra
Teej
Indrajatra
Chhath
Ghode Jatra
Shree Ram Nawami
Vivaha Panchami
Bagh Jatra
Bhairav Kumari Jatra
Chaite Dashain
Gaura Parva
Gunla
Guru Purnima
Rato Macchendranath Jatra
Mani Rimdu
Mata-yaa
Neel Barahi Pyakhan
Rath Yatra
Tamu Dhee
Tansen Jatra
Taya Macha
Yomari Punhi
Hindu-Buddhist syncretism

There has traditionally been a great deal of intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Many people regarded as Hindus in the 1981 census could also in some senses be called Buddhists. Hindus long have worshipped at Buddhist temples and Buddhists at Hindu temples. The reason for this is that both Hinduism and Buddhism have common roots, and over most of their history have not been seen as separate communions, but rather rival tendencies within a shared religious tradition. Because of such dual faith practices, the differences between Hindus and Buddhists have been very subtle and academic in nature; Hindus and Buddhists have never engaged in any religious conflicts for past millennia. There are many temples where both Hindus and Buddhists can enter and worship.

Demographics

Hindu population by ethnic group

The figures are based on the 2011 Nepal census. NEG denotes newly listed ethnic group, for which 2001 Nepal census figures are not available.

Caste	Hindu change	Race	Hindus 2001	Hindus 2011	Pop 2011
Chhetri/Kshetri	-0.23%	Khas	99.48%	99.25%	4,398,053
Brahmin /Bahun	-0.12%	Khas	99.68%	99.56%	3,226,903
Magar	+4.36%	Sino/Tibetan	74.60%	78.96%	1,887,733
Tharu	-3.67%	Adivasi	97.63%	93.96%	1,737,470
Tamang	+1.19%	Sino/Tibetan	7.69%	8.88%	1,539,830
Newar	+3.25%	Sino/Tibetan and Indic Aryan	84.13%	87.38%	1,321,933
Musalman	-2.19%	Muslim	2.19%	0.00%	1,164,255
Kami	-0.34%	Dalit	96.69%	96.35%	1,258,554
Yadav	-0.09%	Terai/Low	99.78%	99.69%	1,054,458
Rai	+2.53%	Sino/Tibetan	25.00%	27.53%	620,004
Gurung	+3.43%	Sino/Tibetan	28.75%	32.18%	522,641
Damai/Dholi	-1.22%	Dalit	97.81%	96.59%	472,862
Limbu	+3.02%	Sino/Tibetan	11.32%	14.34%	387,300
Thakuri	-0.09%	Khas	99.40%	99.31%	425,623
Sarki	-2.44%	Dalit	97.90%	95.46%	374,816
Teli	0.39%	Terai/Low	99.19%	99.58%	369,688
Chamar	0.70%	Dalit	98.85%	99.55%	335,893
Koiri	-0.06%	Terai/Low	99.77%	99.71%	306,393
Kurmi	0.00%	Terai/Low	99.84%	99.84%	231,129
Sanyasi	-0.16%	Khas	99.21%	99.05%	227,822
Dhanuk	-0.15%	Terai/Low	99.75%	99.60%	219,808
Musahar	+0.58%	Dalit	98.52%	99.10%	234,490
Dusadh	+0.20%	Dalit	99.47%	99.67%	208,910
Sherpa	-6.26%	Sino/Tibetan	6.26%	0.00%	112,946
Sonar	+1.29%	Terai/Low	98.20%	99.49%	64,335
Kewat	+0.17%	Terai/Low	99.58%	99.75%	153,772
Brahman	-0.05%	Terai High	99.58%	99.53%	134,106
Kathbaniyan	+0.36%	Terai High	99.32%	99.68%	138,637
Gharti/Bhujel	+1.10%	Sino/Tibetan	96.50%	97.60%	118,650
Mallaha	+0.63%	Terai/Low	99.13%	99.76%	173,261
Kalwar	+0.08%	Terai/Low	99.69%	99.77%	128,232
Kumal	-0.17%	Sino/Tibetan	98.42%	98.25%	121,196
Hajam/Thakur	+0.07%	Terai/Low	99.59%	99.66%	117,758
Kanu	-0.16%	Terai/Low	99.89%	99.73%	125,184
Rajbansi	+13.75%	Adivasi	85.15%	98.90%	115,242
Sunuwar	+12.79%	Sino/Tibetan	79.50%	92.29%	55,712
Sudhi	-0.18%	Terai/Low	99.67%	99.49%	93,115
Lohar	-0.24%	Terai/Low	99.78%	99.54%	101,421
Tatma	-0.29%	Dalit	99.79%	99.50%	104,865
Khatwe	+0.15%	Dalit	99.45%	99.60%	100,921
Dhobi	+0.27%	Dalit	99.45%	99.72%	109,079
Majhi	+0.31%	Sino/Tibetan	81.67%	81.98%	83,727
Nuniya	+0.48%	Terai/Low	99.34%	99.82%	70,540
Kumhar	+0.39%	Terai/Low	99.19%	99.58%	62,399
Danuwar	-15.60%	Sino/Tibetan	99.26%	83.66%	84,115
Chepang	-5.73%	Sino/Tibetan	70.23%	64.50%	68,399
Haluwai	+0.25%	Terai/Low	99.38%	99.63%	83,869
Rajput	+0.29%	Terai High	99.32%	99.61%	41,972
Kayastha	+0.74%	Terai High	98.88%	99.62%	44,304
Badhaee	+0.07%	Terai/Low	99.52%	99.59%	28,932
Marwadi	-1.53%	Other	94.88%	93.35%	51,443
Santhal	-6.07%	Adivasi	83.06%	76.99%	51,735
Jhangad	-11.29%	Adivasi	92.79%	81.50%	37,424
Bantar/Sardar	+1.31%	Dalit	97.85%	99.16%	55,104
Baraee	-0.10%	Terai/Low	99.90%	99.80%	80,597
Kahar	-0.39%	Terai/Low	99.88%	99.49%	53,159
Gangai	-11.13%	Adivasi	98.44%	87.31%	36,988
Lodh	-1.39%	Terai/Low	99.82%	98.43%	32,837
Rajbhar	+0.25%	Terai/Low	99.41%	99.66%	9,542
Thami	-11.81%	Sino/Tibetan	55.74%	43.93%	28,671
Dhimal	-1.30%	Adivasi	57.41%	56.11%	26,298
Bhote	-37.90%	Sino/Tibetan	37.90%	0.00%	13,397
Bin	-0.10%	Terai/Low	99.88%	99.78%	75,195
Gaderi	-0.03%	Terai/Low	99.70%	99.67%	26,375
Nurang	-98.54%	Sino/Tibetan	98.54%	0.00%	278
Yakkha	-2.67%	Sino/Tibetan	14.17%	11.50%	24,336
Darai	-2.95%	Sino/Tibetan	97.89%	94.94%	16,789
Tajpuriya	+13.05%	Adivasi	64.15%	77.20%	19,213
Thakali	-3.21%	Sino/Tibetan	33.83%	30.62%	13,215
Chidimar	-0.17%	Adivasi	99.29%	99.12%	1,254
Pahari	+12.28%	Sino/Tibetan	78.90%	91.18%	13,615
Mali	-0.11%	Terai/Low	99.78%	99.67%	14,995
Bangali	+2.05%	Other	97.02%	99.07%	26,582
Chhantyal	+64.25%	Sino/Tibetan	30.78%	95.03%	11,810
Dom	-0.05%	Dalit	99.24%	99.19%	13,268
Kamar	+1.89%	Terai/Low	98.00%	99.89%	1,787
Bote	-10.53%	Sino/Tibetan	98.57%	88.04%	10,397
Brahmu	+7.55%	Sino/Tibetan	72.04%	79.59%	8,140
Gaine	-2.72%	Dalit	97.01%	94.29%	6,791
Jirel	+6.82%	Sino/Tibetan	10.55%	17.37%	5,774
Dura	+80.43%	Sino/Tibetan	18.94%	99.37%	5,394
Badi	-2.88%	Dalit	98.83%	95.95%	38,603
Meche	-4.69%	Adivasi	80.28%	75.59%	4,867
Lepcha	+1.93%	Sino/Tibetan	7.62%	9.55%	3,445
Halkhor	-0.01%	Dalit	99.34%	99.33%	4,003
Punjabi	+10.36%	Other	80.68%	91.04%	7,176
Kisan	-0.85%	Adivasi	95.62%	94.77%	1,739
Raji	+9.69%	Sino/Tibetan	88.33%	98.02%	4,235
Byangsi	-98.05%	Sino/Tibetan	98.05%	0.00%	3,895
Hayu	-22.67%	Sino/Tibetan	70.29%	47.62%	2,925
Koche	-3.14%	Adivasi	97.76%	94.62%	1,635
Dhunia	+6.38%	Terai/Low	93.10%	99.48%	14,846
Walung	-82.40%	Sino/Tibetan	82.40%	0.00%	1,249
Munda	+18.12%	Adivasi	78.94%	97.06%	2,350
Raute	+13.00%	Sino/Tibetan	83.28%	96.28%	618
Yehlmo	-1.55%	Sino/Tibetan	1.55%	0.00%	10,752
Patharkatta	-5.95%	Adivasi	99.82%	93.87%	3,182
Kusunda	-14.78%	Sino/Tibetan	97.56%	82.78%	273
Lhomi	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	0.00%	1,614
Kalar	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.26%	1,077
Natuwa	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.74%	3,062
Dhandi	NEG	Dalit	NEG	100.00%	1,982
Dhankar	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.59%	2,681
Kulung	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	2.27%	28,613
Ghale	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	35.96%	22,881
Khawas	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	87.61%	18,513
Rajdhob	NEG	Terai/Low	NEG	99.78%	13,422
Kori	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.98%	12,276
Nachhiring	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	3.17%	7,154
Yamphu	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	7.05%	6,933
Chamling	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	28.70%	6,668
Aathpariya	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	5.86%	5,977
Sarbaria	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.55%	4,906
Bantaba	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	42.66%	4,604
Dolpo	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	0.00%	4,107
Amat	NEG	Terai/Low	NEG	99.11%	3,830
Thulung	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	17.45%	3,535
Mewahang	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	10.23%	3,100
Bahing	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	14.73%	3,096
Lhopa	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	0.27%	2,624
Dev	NEG	Terai/Low	NEG	99.44%	2,147
Samgpang	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	25.34%	1,681
Khaling	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	20.88%	1,571
Topkegola	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	0.00%	1,523
Loharung	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	10.15%	1,153
Dalit Oth	+0.02%	Dalit	97.84%	97.86%	155,354
Janajati Oth	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	70.36%	1,228
Terai Oth	+8.47%	Terai/Low	90.44%	98.91%	103,811
Undefined	NEG	Other	NEG	70.32%	15,277
Foreigner	NEG	Other	NEG	67.22%	6,651
Total	+0.72%	All	80.62%	81.34%	26,494,504

As seen from the 2001 and 2011 Census data, the percentage of Hindus has gone up by 0.72%, from 80.62% to 81.34%. However, the overall trend remains largely negative. All the major racial group except the Sino/Tibetans showed a decline in the percentage of Hindus, which was especially sharp among certain Adivasi groups such as Tharu and Dalit groups. Among the Sino/Tibetans, the percentage of Hindus went up by 2.37%, from 49.74% to 52.11%.

Hindu population by district

The figures are based on 2011 Nepal census.

District	% Hindu
Baitadi	99.93%
Kalikot	99.79%
Bajhang	99.74%
Achham	99.43%
Doti	99.04%
Jajarkot	98.96%
Dadeldhura	98.88%
Darchula	98.88%
Bajura	98.68%
Jumla	97.89%
Salyan	97.71%
Dailekh	97.40%
Arghakhanchi	97.03%
Gulmi	96.78%
Pyuthan	96.61%
Rukum	96.51%
Dang	96.46%
Kanchanpur	95.09%
Kailali	94.91%
Bardiya	94.17%
Surkhet	91.86%
Mugu	91.64%
Palpa	90.52%
Syangja	90.21%
Siraha	90.19%
Parbat	89.48%
Dhanusa	89.35%
Baglung	89.27%
Nawalparasi	88.18%
Bhaktapur	87.85%
Myagdi	87.16%
Tanahu	86.51%
Rupandehi	86.24%
Saptari	85.73%
Sarlahi	85.56%
Rolpa	85.17%
Mahottari	84.24%
Parsa	83.10%
Kaski	82.33%
Bara	81.73%
Humla	81.62%
Chitwan	81.40%
Kapilbastu	80.62%
Morang	80.27%
Kathmandu	80.01%
Jhapa	79.88%
Banke	78.42%
Rautahat	77.77%
Gorkha	75.15%
Lalitpur	73.53%
Sunsari	73.28%
Udayapur	72.57%
Dhading	72.42%
Ramechhap	71.93%
Okhaldhunga	70.76%
Dolpa	70.15%
Dolakha	67.80%
Sindhuli	64.47%
Lamjung	63.98%
Kavrepalanchok	62.57%
Sindhupalchok	58.98%
Khotang	58.78%
Nuwakot	57.77%
Bhojpur	53.33%
Terhathum	52.17%
Dhankuta	49.17%
Makwanpur	48.26%
Ilam	44.49%
Sankhuwasabha	42.73%
Solukhumbu	40.21%
Manang	39.19%
Mustang	37.47%
Taplejung	35.90%
Panchthar	34.31%
Rasuwa	25.38%

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