Customs & Cuisine of Nepal

Customs and Cuisine of Nepal

By Sheila Dunn

Geography
Located between India to the south, east and west and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, Nepal is a land-locked country in South Asia. It is slightly larger than either of the US states of Arkansas or North Carolina.

Nepal contains some of the most rugged and difficult mountain terrain in the world. Roughly 75% of the country is covered by the Himalayan mountain range including 8 of the 10 tallest peaks in the world. The tallest peak, Mount Everest (29,000 ft. elevation), is revered among the locals as “Samgarmatha” (Goddess of the Universe).

Nepal’s capital and cultural hub is Kathmandu, which is home to about 2 million people, but because of its topography, isolation and lagging economic development, Nepal is largely rural. Aside from its capital, there are few major cities, with the majority living in villages or small urban centers (2023). Most people in this country of 30,425,000 (2026 est.) live in the southern Terai plains (about 54%) and the central hilly region (40%), which includes Kathmandu.

The natural flora and fauna of Nepal follows the pattern of climate and altitude. Ecological zones range from the plains of the Ganges river that are just above sea level to uninhabitable alpine rocky slopes. Tropical, moist deciduous forests in the low-lying Terai are home to Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinos. Subtropical lower elevations become temperate at higher elevations, supporting diverse vegetation. Alpine scrublands along the lower slopes of the Himalayas are habitat for snow leopards and red pandas. Just below the snow line, between 14,000 and 15,000 feet, grassy vegetation affords favorable grazing ground in summer. At altitudes above 16,000 feet the temperature is always below freezing and the surface is covered with snow and ice.

Diversity
Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious country that boasts unity in diversity. Over 80 various ethnic groups reside in this country with harmony and peace. The official language is Nepali, but more than 123 local languages and dialects are spoken. Different ethnic groups of Nepal have different cultures, traditions, and festivals that are celebrated with mutual respect and harmony. Religions are primarily Hindu (81%), Buddhist ( 9%), Muslim ( 4%), and others.

Economy
Nepal is one of the least developed nations in the world. Over 3.5 million Nepalis work abroad because of the lack of economic opportunities at home. The money these workers send home comprises over 26.6% of Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product, which amounts to approximately US $11 billion. Nepal’s currency is the Nepalese rupee.

Slightly over 20% of Nepalis live below the poverty line on less than $3/day. Communities in remote rural areas, such as those in the steep and rugged hills of eastern Nepal, experience poverty rates as high as 42.3% – about double the national average. These primarily Indigenous communities are hard to reach, which has led to limited access to markets, resources, and employment.

Nepal lacks resources for economic development and is heavily dependent on imports of essential commodities such as fuel, construction materials, fertilizers, metals, and most consumer goods. Nepal exports rice, jute, timber, and textiles. Cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep are the principal livestock raised.

Agriculture is the occupation for most of Nepal’s population and consists of terraced farming of maize (corn), millet, wheat, and rice. These crops account for well over half of Nepal’s export earnings. Potatoes and sugarcane are also commonly grown. The majority of food is grown in the Terai region and exported to India while at the same time, some mid-mountainous areas of Nepal experience food insecurity due to inadequate roads to transport food to these areas.

Agricultural productivity is very low because of inefficient techniques combined with a shortage of fertilizers and improved seeds. Very little of Nepal’s infrastructure includes irrigation so crop survival is at the mercy of the weather. Finally, challenging and difficult transportation in many areas limit the ability to access markets for crops.

In attempts to increase cultivated land area, forests are being clear cut, which leads to erosion and landslides. Major projects are underway to attempt to halt soil erosion and deforestation.

Politics
When the British conquered India in the 19th century, Nepal sought to fend off the threat of occupation by reaching a de facto alliance whereby Kathmandu permitted the recruitment of Nepalese men for the highly valued Gurkha units in the British Indian army. Nepal also accepted British “guidance” on foreign policy in order to retain its autonomy. The British withdrew from India in 1947.

Political ideologies that favored isolationism coupled with its land-locked nature kept Nepal “closed” to the world until 1950, when the system of inherited Prime Ministership that had pushed isolationism was overthrown. After decades of uprisings and frequent government changes (from Marxists to monarchs), in 2008 Nepal became a democratic republic.

In late 2025, deadly protests were initially set off by a government ban on social media, but rapidly swelled into a mass movement by a younger generation disillusioned by high unemployment and limited opportunities. These protests left 77 people dead, and eventually reshaped Nepal’s political landscape. In March 2026, ex-rapper Balendra Shah swept to power in a landslide Gen-Z-led election victory, defeating the existing Marxist party. Shah’s music (listen) had long targeted the same grievances, and his path from engineer to rapper to Kathmandu’s new leader portends a generational shift in Nepal where 60% of its 30.5 million people are under 30 years of age, but the leadership of all major parties had long remained in its 70s.

Challenges
Earthquake
In 2015, a severe earthquake (magnitude 7.8) struck 50 miles northwest of Kathmandu, causing widespread death and destruction and triggering avalanches on Mt. Everest. Aftershocks followed the initial quake, including a 7.3 magnitude earthquake centered near the Tibet border west of Everest. In all, some 9,000 people were killed and nearly 16,800 more injured in the two quakes.

Climate Change
In recent years, Nepal has experienced an increase in soil erosion, landslides, flash floods, and droughts, impacting lives and livelihoods. The frequency of precipitation extremes is also increasing, and warming in Nepal is projected to be higher than the global average. Drought, heatwaves, glacial melting, and river flooding are all projected to intensify over the 21st century, potentially exacerbating disaster risk levels and putting human life at risk.

The World Bank estimates that the number of people annually affected by river flooding could more than double by 2030 as a result of climate change and that the economic impact of river flooding could triple. Those living in poverty, in remote areas, and subsistence farming are most vulnerable to the risks posed by climate change. Even with access to adaptation approaches (irrigation, water storage, new crop varieties), damage and loss are expected to occur. Without support to the poorest in Nepalese society, inequalities are likely to widen.

Education and Health
While roughly 95% of children in Nepal are enrolled in primary school, girls tend to drop out, especially in the upper grades. Dropout rates are higher for girls who live in remote areas, from low-income families, who marry early, or who experience gender-based violence. About 27% of Nepali women versus 43% of men have had some secondary school education. Women also have lower literacy rates than men (63% vs. 81%).

Significant quality disparities exist between rural and urban schools. Many rural schools lack adequate facilities, including safe, consistent access to water and sanitation. Moreover, it is difficult for rural schools to attract qualified teachers, leaving them with high teacher-student ratios and under-trained staff. In fact, in Nepal’s 2023 Secondary School Certificate examination, 48 rural schools received a zero percent pass rate.

Health care in Nepal remains inadequate, despite government attempts to improve existing health centers and to establish new ones. Malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, and typhoid are prevalent in spite of government projects to control or eradicate them. Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional Hindu system of medicine, is popular in Nepal.

Malnourishment affects about 36% of children as evidenced by stunted growth, leaving children at risk of cognitive and physical limitations that can last a lifetime.

Gender Equality
Nepal’s Constitution has made significant strides in reducing the gender gap in three areas: greater labor force participation (33% of women; 56% of men), women’s rights to own property, and encouraging women to participate in government leadership. Over 33% of parliamentary seats are currently held by women.

Overall, women continue to have lower literacy rates and limited economic opportunities compared to men. A significant wage gap persists where women earn less than men for similar work in formal sectors.

High rates of gender-based violence (23% of women aged 15–49, 2022 data) and harmful traditional practices like Chhaupadi (isolation during menstruation) persist, particularly in rural areas.

While laws that promote gender equality are progressive, enforcement is weak, and deep rooted patriarchal norms persist, especially in rural areas.

Sex trafficking is a significant, growing, and often hidden crisis in Nepal, with estimates of 5,000-7,000 women and children trafficked annually for sexual exploitation, primarily to India and increasingly to Gulf countries, Malaysia, China and Korea. Driven by poverty, illiteracy, natural disasters, and the 2015 earthquake, trafficking has expanded to include internal exploitation, especially of girls under 18 in massage parlors, dance bars, and cabin restaurants. Traffickers target young, uneducated Nepalis from traditionally vulnerable castes and ethnic minority communities with limited economic opportunities and then lure victims with promises of work or education, often through social media platforms.

Culture
Core Values
Loyalty and honesty are considered core cultural values among Nepalis, and their way of life reflects these values. Their way of life has evolved to be interdependent. Personal ambition is often set aside in the interest of community well-being. In a country that ranks among the least developed in the world, absent a government funded safety net, neighbors/friends pitch in to help one another, going as far as pooling assets, and in times of need, acting as a de facto safety net.

This collectivistic cultural ethos is also evident in how the Nepali feel most comfortable as a group. They rarely travel or eat alone and enjoy and actively seek both conversation and companionship.

The caste system has been outlawed by the government but it still makes up the social structure of everyday lives. Nepalese are from four main groups: the Hindu caste, which originated in India, the Bhotes, the hill tribes, which include the Sherpas, and the Newar.

The cow is sacred to Hindus who abstain from consuming beef. In Nepal, beef is rarely consumed but “buff” meat (buffalo meat) is. Nepalis generally abstain from drinking alcohol, as well.

The traditional greeting is “namaste” (“I greet the Divine within you”) with palms pressed together at chest level. Honorific titles are often used as a sign of respect or as a nod to the receiver’s age/status. An older woman may be referred to as “Didi” (older sister, even if no formal relation exists), an older man, “Daai” (older brother), a younger male “Bhaai” (younger brother), and a younger female “bahini” (younger sister). The suffix “ji” is added to a name to denote respect, “Namaste, Jane-ji!”. The Nepalese equivalent of “Hi, how have you been?” would be “Namaste, have you eaten yet?”

Being respectful of things that are considered of value is another core cultural value.
Food and education, for instance, are considered valuable. Education is venerated and feet are considered unclean, so the Nepali avoid touching or kicking books, stationery, paper, or other reading and writing materials as they are conduits of knowledge and an insult to the Hindu Goddess of Education, Saraswati. Spilling food and then stepping on it is likewise considered an insult to the Goddess of Food, Annapurna.

Art, Music, Dance
The end of isolationism in 1951 brought a relaxation of censorship which encouraged a revival of artistic and intellectual expression. Nepali patriotism during this cultural renaissance is reflected in literature and poetry.

The primary sources of inspiration for sculpture, painting, and architecture are Hindu and Buddhist religious values. Some 2,500 temples and shrines display this artistry, especially from the Newar of Kathmandu Valley.

Music and dance are favorite pastimes among the Nepalese. Religious ceremonies often use drums and wind instruments preserved from ancient times. Devotional songs are important in most religious and family occasions.

Tourism
The founder of Buddhism, Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal as a prince of the Shakya dynasty, Siddhartha Gautam. His birthplace is preserved in the town of Lumbini, inside the Maya Devi temple, which is the holiest pilgrimage site for Buddhists all over the world.

Nepal is a popular destination for backpackers and hikers not just because it is home to most of the tallest peaks in the world but also because the Nepali are some of the most friendly and welcoming people in the world. The transition from tourist to “guest” is inevitable and one of many reasons many visitors return.

Family Life
The social structure is stratified both along caste and economic status. The extended family with patrilocal linkages is the norm, with a male head of household. Gender roles are well-defined, with the females tending to the home and offspring while the males work outside the home. While females are expected to be and are subservient to the males, mothers are afforded a great deal of respect within the home for their role as nurturers and household anchors. Multigenerational households are common, where elder women are typically cared for by family members.

Both within a household and within the community, age confers greater authority and respect. Even among children, the younger siblings in the birth order are to address the older siblings with respect. This respect is demonstrated through use of the honorific forms of address.

Nepal has one of the highest rates of child marriage globally. Despite being illegal (the legal age is 20), child marriage is widespread, with 5 million child brides and 1.3 million girls married before age 15. Rates are much higher among rural, poor, and marginalized groups.

While arranged marriages are the norm, love matches are increasingly gaining acceptance when they satisfy certain rules (caste, religion, etc.). These “rules” are often religion-dependent. For instance, among the Hinduism-practicing Nepalese, marriages within kin groups (cousins) are forbidden. Among the Gurung however, marriages between cousins are permitted.

Traditionally, newly married women move in with their in-laws and come under the rule of their mother-in-law, and this persists in many families today, even with love marriages
Divorce carries stigma and is uncommon. Couples might separate but remain legally married to avoid this stigma. In the rural regions, with inheritance and management of the household income being entrusted to the males (even in a joint income household), divorce or widowhood could be devastating to women.

The Food of Nepal
The cuisine of Nepal has similarities with Indian and Tibetan cuisine, while being more plant-based than its neighbors. It contains more lean animal protein (yak and buffalo) and uses less dairy in dishes such as curries. Common spices include ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, and timur (Sichuan pepper).

Dal Bhat is often considered the national dish of Nepal. Almost identical both in name and preparation to Dal Bhat in India, the dish is curried lentil soup (Dal) and rice (Bhat). Where Indian food tends to utilize more spices, Nepalese food is milder on the heat but favors a more sour/tart flavor profile.

Momos are another quintessentially Nepalese dish. Steamed or fried dumplings that trace their origins to Tibet, Momos are part appetizer, part side dish but all comfort. Stuffed with ground meat or vegetables and ginger, garlic, cilantro, and cabbage, Momos are served with a savory tart dipping sauce called achar.

Aloo Tama Bodi is a stew of potatoes (aloo), bamboo shoot (tama), and black-eyed peas (bodi). Served with rice or roti (unleavened flat bread), Aloo Tama Bodi is frequently fermented with mustard seeds, turmeric, and mustard oil imparting a sour note.

Chatamari is a Newari style dish that is comparable to pizza. A rice crepe/flatbread is topped with ground meat, onions, tomatoes, and a fried egg.

Dhido is a thick polenta-like dish made with buckwheat flour, millet, or cornmeal. It is served with curry, vegetables, greens, and yogurt in a thali-style meal.

Thali style meals are a staple in parts of India wherein a serving of grain/starch, vegetables, curry, soup, yogurt, and sometimes dessert are served in individual single-serve bowls arranged in a big plate (thali). The thali represents all the components of a balanced meal.

Thukpa is a noodle soup of Tibetan origin. Made with rice noodles, shredded meat, and julienned vegetables, the Nepalese version has more heat through the addition of chilies and garam masala (a combination of spices that is popular in Indian cuisine).

Yomari are fish-shaped, sweet-filled rice dumplings, while Sel roti are rice flour based fried “doughnuts.”
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Sources:

Economy

Human Development Reports: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads

DZI: https://dzi.org/where-we-work/

Encyclopedia Brittanica: https://www.britannica.com/place/Nepal/Economy

Politics: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/12/ex-rapper-balendra-shah-sweeps-to-power-in-nepal-landslide-election-victory

Education:

Human Development Reports, Gender Development/Inequality Index tables, 2023.

Rural-urban education divide: https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2024/04/03/growing-rural-urban-education-divide

Human Capital Index 2020: https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext_download/hci/HCI_2pager_NPL.pdf

Healthcare:

Stunting: Ref: Nepal: World Bank Human Capital Index 2020. https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext_download/hci/

Climate Change

Climate Change Knowledge Portal. https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/nepal and https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/country-profiles/15720-WB_Nepal Country Profile-WEB.pdf

Gender Equality

A qualitative study on gender inequality and gender-based violence in Nepal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9628167/

UN Women Data Hub. https://data.unwomen.org/country/nepal

Sex Trafficking: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/nepal/

and https://np.usembassy.gov/nepal-2025-tip-report/

Child Marriages:

https://plan-international.org/nepal/what-we-do/ending-child-early-forced-marriage-nepal/

https://www.care.org/news-and-stories/early-marriage-nepal/

https://www.unicef.org/media/88831/file/Child-marriage-Nepal-profile-2019.pdf

Marriage and divorce in Nepal: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7332111/

Culture:

https://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nepal.html