Kajal Naina discusses the social and cultural cross-border relationship between India and Nepal
Countries in South Asia, while having their own peculiarities, share common cultures and ways of life. The norms and values of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Sikhism are deeply rooted in South Asian societies. Although the number of followers of these religious and cultural mainstays vary from country to country, their presence and influence in local arts, cultures and traditions, are distinctly visible in every country and society in the region. Nepal, too, has its unique geography, history and cultural heritage, and still is an integral part of the broader cultural history and tradition of the Indian subcontinent.
While being parts of broader South Asian culture, Nepal and India share a special bond and similarity in cultural tradition. They are so closely knit by social life and cultural tradition that nobody can imagine them apart. Both have made great contributions in enriching religious and cultural heritage in this region, and beyond.
Lord Buddha for instance, born in Nepal, has left his footprints not only in South Asia but all over the world. Another example is Sita, the daughter of Nepal, who was married to Ram, the crown prince of Ayodhya in India, has made a special place in the hearts of Hindus living anywhere in the world. The contributions made by Indian philosophers and saints need no further elaboration. It is these great personalities of this region that have helped evolve, develop and spread the cultural heritage that is proudly known today as South Asian culture.
The cultural links between Nepal and India have many facets. Religion is, perhaps, the most important factor, and plays a predominant role in shaping the cultural relations between these two countries. This is manifested in the large number of people from both countries visiting each other’s countries for pilgrimage. Thousands of Nepalese nationals visit pilgrimage sites in India every year. The char dham yatra (visit of four dhams in India, viz. Badrinath/Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, Jagannath (Puri) in Orissa, Rameshwaram in Tamilnadu, and Dwarka in Gujarat) is a life-time aspiration of almost all Hindus. There are many other places in India which are considered sacred sites by Nepalese people. They include Haridwar, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Gaya, Vaishnodevi, and many more. Similarly, there are a number of religious sites in Nepal which are considered very sacred and important, and are attractions as ‘must visit’ religious destinations for Indian nationals. Such sites include Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Lumbini (the birth-place of Buddha) in Rupandehi district, Ram-Janaki temple in Janakpur (the birth place of Janak and Sita), and many more. As the people of both countries share common religious faiths and philosophies, and revere and worship the same gods and incarnations, their cultural ties are very strong and inseparable.
Except for the seamless exposure to the cultures, these countries also share a lot of traditions and ways of doing things. Following Indian traditions, Nepal is catching up quickly on the use of ornaments that are given religious and symbolic importance like rudraksha, mangalsutra, et al. Mangalsutras are getting a lot of attention and being used in marriages across Nepal. The trend was started by a Nepali actress with a special piece designed for her wedding day to give a meaningful, unique and relevant touch to modern day brides that has changed the game for this piece of jewellery amongst Nepalese women and abroad. This tradition is riding a big wave in Nepal and will give rise for many more to come.
Another component of Nepal-India cultural relations is cinemas and music. Indian movies are popular in Nepal; and so is Indian music. Similarly, Nepali cinemas and music are popular in India, especially in places with concentration of the people of Nepalese origin, mainly in Northern and North-eastern India.
Between Nepal and India, there have been frequent exchanges of ideas, personalities and groups of people representing the areas of art, culture, music, literature and sports. These kinds of events are not limited to government entities alone, but are taking place even more at the grass-root level. Nepal’s diverse cultural heritage of dance and music (both classical and folk), theatre, fine arts, and sports have been interacting with their counterparts in India, and have been contributing to foster friendly ties and generate a better understanding and appreciation of each other’s traditions. Every facet of art and culture has become a way of life, and is expressed in carvings, paintings, architecture, sculptures and performing arts like music, cinema and dance. Every form of art in these countries is heavily influenced by the respective religious traditions and mythologies, and has helped shape religious norms and values in Nepal and India.
Having a seamless exposure to both the countries’ traditions, cultures and ways of life; these two will have better mutual understanding. These waves, including religion, traditions, clothing and jewellery, will surely promote the existing ties and enhance the Indian touch reaching Nepal.
(The author is the founder and CEO of Kajal Naina Fine Jewellery, a Hong Kong-based jewellery store.)