Hinduism

Hinduism is the chief religion of nepal.It is the eternal and traditional religion of the nepalese .Its time of origin is not known to anybody. There are many books on Hinduism but the oldest books are the Vedas .Other holy books are the Upanishad ,Rmayan ,Mahabharat ,Bhagwat Geeta ,and hundreds of others .Hindus regard god as omnipresent and omniponent.In hinduism,there are three super gods.They are Brahma ,the creator of universe ,Vishnu,the preserver of all and Shiv ,the destroyer.the hindus go to temples to worship.They worship gods in various ways such as Panchapachar,Dashochar,Shodashochar.They recite stotrasand observe large number of festivals.Hinduism teaches its followers.
to praY to god
to show devotion to god
to respect parents and elders
to be kind to every livings beings
to be truthful and honest
to practice non-violence

KATHMANDU is the famous historic place in the world

The history of the city of Kathmandu dates back to ancient times and is inseparable from that of the Kathmandu valley whose architectural and cultural heritage consists of seven groups of monuments and buildings. These illustrate the historic and artistic achievements for which Kathmandu is renowned and contain a variety of beautiful and unique architecture. Kathmandu is a mixture of both Buddhist and Hindu temples with stone and wood carvings providing excellent examples of intricate workmanship that can be seen throughout the city. The finest example is in the Durbar Square; this is located in the old city and developed over many centuries. The meaning of Durbar is the place of palaces although it could also be known as the place of temples as it has 50 temples situated in two quadrangles. Adjacent to Durbar Square is Kumari Ghar. This is the palace where the living incarnation of the goddess Taleju lives. The Kumari is a young girl who is selected as a manifestation of the divine female energy and retains that role until she reaches puberty.

The Buddhist stupas (domed structures housing Buddhist or Jain relics) of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath are located 7 miles from the city centre and are the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal. The Bauddhanath is 36 metres tall and was probably built in the 14th century after the Mughal invasions, although records do indicate that it may have existed in some form as far back as the 6th century AD. The base of the stupa has 108 small depictions of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha and is surrounded with a brick wall with 147 niches, each containing prayer wheels. Swayambhunath is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. This is also known as the Monkey Temple as a number of holy monkeys live in parts of the temple. It is believed to date back over two thousand years and an inscription records that King Manadeva worked on the site in the year 460AD. The present stupa was rebuilt after Mughal invaders broke open the original in 1346 when searching for gold. The stupa was expanded in the 17th century by King Pratap Malla, who added a large stairway.

It was during the period of 1673 to 1696 under King Jitamitra Malla, that Kathmandu experienced its greatest building works. In 1674, Jitamitra Malla built the Shiva temple and in 1682, the two-storied Dharmasala Palace which was used by royalty until 1769; which today is a museum. To the east of this he erected the temple and statue of Narayana, along with the temples of Dattatrikasa and Pashupati. The Kathmandu Valley became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 with a number of minor modifications in 2006.

TRADITIONAL ACCOMMODATION IN PATAN ' DHAKHWA HOUSE'

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Dhakhwa House  is actually only a part of a larger house, which was divided a few decades ago. The house was originally built by Bekha Muni Dhakhwa approximately 95 years ago, when he moved from the main Dhakhwa Chowk nearby in Nagbahal, and used for residential purposes. It had a primary access from the Nagbahal and was connected to four courtyards. During the 1934 (1990 BS) earthquake, a portion of the house on the northeast corner, which was being used as the dhukuti (a vault), was lost.
The word ‘Dhakhwa’ basically means ‘experts on playing the dha:, a traditional musical instrument in the Newari culture. They are also known for their extensive trading with Lhasa.
Dhakhwa buildings were well known as one of the magnificent styles of Newari architecture in the past decades. However, due to the modern needs of accommodation, these buildings are left abandoned and its beauty is left to degrade over time. Adaptive reuse of these buildings can be a great solution for conserving and sustaining these precious buildings. Just by conserving the heritages inherited, we can follow the principle of sustainability, which is the need of today’s generation. An abandoned Dhakhwa building is proposed to be used as a fully functional guest house cum office space, incorporating every required modern amenity without destroying its architectural significance. After the completion of this project, the abandoned Dhakhwa House will not only serve as a source of income but also as the perfect Newari getaway for the tourists. The architectural significance of this building will be well preserved by proper repair and restoration of the lost architectural elements.

NEPALI ART AND CRAFTS

Art The art and culture of Nepal has been strongly influenced by the religious beliefs of the country. The artwork is decorative, delicate and very beautiful. Nepal art is strongly influenced by the culture of the people and the two really go together and are interwoven. The two most typical forms of art are that of paintings and sculptures. Nepal art and culture has changed little over the centuries though western influences are slowly starting to affect some modern artists.

Painting The earliest examples of Nepalese art in painting form is that of manuscript illustrations found on palm leaves. This tradition goes far back into the past and the earliest known illustrated manuscript is the Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita of 1015 AD. Often the wooden covers which were created to protect the manuscript-painted leaves are more lavishly decorated than the actual manuscript. Many examples of this type of art have survived and are well preserved. The influence that religion has on such artwork is evident in the fact that such manuscripts are usually only decorated with figures

of divinities. All the manuscripts are illustrated with images of gods and goddesses, regardless of whether they are Buddhist or Hindu in origin. Oftentimes certain manuscripts – along with the relevant imagery – would be copied and donated to a monk, priest, monastery or temple. Thus the style of painting remained fairly constant and painting quality was maintained for a long period of time. The quality of paper manuscripts also declined. Due to this, older paintings are now held in higher regard than more modern manuscripts of lower quality. Another form of painting that is evident in Nepal since the ancient times are Thangka Paintings. These were primarily religious in nature and were used as icons in worship. These paintings are known as Paubha in Newari and Thangka in Tibetan, and originated in Nepal. The creation of illuminated wall paintings or religious metal sculptures was in big demand at one stage and this spawned an ‘industry’ of skilled artisans who catered to the demand by initiating the painting of such icons on cloth which could be rolled up and easily transported. These thangka paintings were widely received with praise and thus made their way into homes and monasteries in the ninth century and are still popular today. A good example of a thangka painting is the ‘Mandala of Vishnu’ which dates back to 1420 AD. Early thangkas are simple in design and consist of a centrally positioned large deity surrounded by smaller figures of lesser importance. From the 15th century, the Tantric cult started to take hold of the people of the land. Artists started to use brighter colors and there was a tendency towards the portrayal of Shiva and Shakti in various conventional poses. Because of the esoteric nature of Tantrism, a strong emphasis was put on the female element and sexuality during this time. The thangkas produced were said to possess magic forces and a great variety of symbols were incorporated into the artwork.

Sculpture Sculpture has enjoyed a long and interesting history in Nepal and many carved artifacts have been found in the Terai region of the country. All early sculptures were religious in nature and the artists themselves also seemed to be extremely devoted to their various deities. While early sculptures were very simple, but those from the Lichchhavi period were strikingly beautiful. These sculptures were made from stone, copper and bronze and depict round faces and slanted eyes. There is a lot of attention to detail while still presenting the deity in a simplistic way. The use of clothing and ornaments were always kept to a minimum and often the subject wears only a dhoti or sanghatis. The Lichchhavi period (5-8 CE) was the Golden Age of Nepalese sculpture and many excellently excavated and preserved examples can be found. Woodcarving, while not always in ornamental form, also served a decorative purpose in ancient Nepal and thus is viewed as an art form. Windows, doors, temples, roof-struts and numerous artefacts were all carved by hand and can be still seen in the Katmandu valley. Wood is not as long-lasting as stone and so  examples do not date back further than the 14th century yet wood carving continues to be a very prominent aspect of Nepalese architecture. Nepalese art work had far reaching effects on other cultures. The first major introduction of local art to other cultures occurred in the 7th century AD when Mahayana Buddhism was introduced in Tibet under the order of the king Angshuvarma. A large number of monasteries were subsequently built and these all needed to be filled with manuscripts and sculptures. Today some of the most outstanding examples of Nepalese art can be found in Tibet. Nepal’s artistic influence even cross the borders of China when Nepalese artisans were sent to the courts of Chinese emperors to impart their knowledge to local craftsmen and to create artworks. The most exemplary contribution of this nature was made by the innovator and architect Balbahu or ‘Arniko’, who’s many creations can still be found to this day. Stupa Style A Nepalese architectural style borne out of Buddhist concepts and used in the construction of Buddhist shrines. Stupa architecture is easy to spot. A square base is mounted upon a hemispherical structure. Atop the strong base are thirteen rings layered on top of each other and progressively narrowing to a point. A parasol tops it all off. The square bases, also known as harmika has pairs of “all-seeing” eyes painted on each of its exposed sides. Swayambhu Shrine and Baudhanath Shrines, declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, are exquisite examples of the stupa style. In Patan you will discover some of the oldest stupas in Nepal that were commissioned by King Ashoka. Shikhara Style Nepal's Shikhara style consists of 5 or nine vertical sections forming a high pyramidal or curvilinear tower-like structure. The apex is bell-shaped. This style is not very common, but a fine example can be seen in Patan, it is the Krishna temple. Architecture The magnificent architecture of Nepal is a form of art which truly captures the culture and essence of Nepal. Traditional Nepalese architecture attracts both tourists and scholars to this amazing country. The fascinating historical buildings and unique Nepalese architectural designs inspire much awe. Particularly popular is Bhaktapur where tourists can explore numerous outstanding Nepalese architectural structures. Certain people have divided Nepal's architecture into three non-specific stylistic groups, namely pagoda style, stupa style and shikhara style. Pagoda Style This Nepalese architectural style features several layered roofs that have broad eaves carefully held up by carved wood struts. The building's roof is typically crowned by triangular spires surrounding upside-down bell made out of burnished gold. Windows on the structure protrude and are usually latticed. The pagoda style is a true demonstration of fine artistic architectural design. Interestingly, China later borrowed the style which further spread through Asia. Pay a visit to Kasthamandap in the Kathmandu Valley to view an impressive wooden pagoda constructed during the Malla age. Another spectacular example of this intriguing Nepalese architectural style is Basantpur Palace, a nine-story structure commissioned by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Also make your way the temples of Pashupati, Changu Narayan and Taleju.

Construction of a House for Children of Prisoners

Construction of a House for Children of Prisoners

Project location: NEPAL, Nepal
Project start date: September 2002 - Project end date: June 2003
Project number: 2002-16
Beneficiary: The Esther Benjamins Trust

The Nando Peretti Foundation  financed the construction of a house for children of prisoniers in Nepal. In the last years The Ester Benjamins Trust (EBT) worked hardly in order to put an end to the practice of jailing dependent children of prisoners in Nepal and the results arrived with the decision of the Government to stop this practice. Now children of prisoners are not forced anymore to live in prison and to undergo such inhuman treatment. These children are left alone and are in serious danger of being sold to circuses and brothels, or for the trade of human organs. The EBT built two houses for children of prisoners, one in Katmandu and one in Bhairhawa. The latter is full and in risk of overcrowding. The project consisted in building a new facility in close proximity of the existing, in order to accommodate 20 more children and to create a centralised office to ensure supervision, managed by the EBT, and a vocational training centre.

(below) The building as it was

(below) the new accomodation block, November 2003

 

Activity Report, April 2003  [pdf 470 kb]

Final Activity Report, 2004

The project outcomes were an increased capacity for residential care of children (former prison children, street children and circus children) along with vocational training and educational facilities and enhanced office facilities. These have all been achieved with the building of a new "White House" refuge, the purchase and enhancement of a "Blue House" temporary accommodation and educational centre, and modification to the pre-existing "Green House". The pre-existing "Red House" has become transit accommodation and educational facilities for newly-released circus children and this has become possible through the previous occupants (refuge boys) joining the refuge girls at the new "White House". The only output that has not been completed has been the construction of a new Green House accommodation/office block and this has been postponed until the Esther Benjamins Trust sets up its own INGO office in Nepal at the end of this year and full needs have been assessed. This development was not anticipated at the start of the project.

exterior views

 Even before project completion the enhanced facilities have been put to good use with centralisation of long term child care at the old and new "White Houses". The "Red House" was used as temporary accommodation for released circus children in January and after being reunited with their parents they were brought back to the Red House in February for an "Educational Development Opportunity" course. At time of writing the Blue House is being prepared for the transit accommodation of 28 newly-released circus children who return from India this weekend.

 We feel very honoured and grateful to have had the support of the Nando Peretti Foundation and hope that we can continue to work together as our work in Nepal expands to meet the growing challenges.

The Esther Benjamins Trust http://www.ebtrust.org.uk/