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Overview:
Land locked, Nepal is situated between the world's
two most populated countries, India and China.
With a per capita income of $210 annually, it
is one of the ten poorest countries in the world
and has virtually no middle class. The majority
of Nepalis are Hindus and Buddhists. In many
areas, the two religions blend into folk rituals,
festivals, and worship.
Basic facts:
Population:
23 698 421 Population
growth rate: 2.52%
Ethnic groups:
Newar, Indian, Tibetan, Gurung, Magar, Tamang,
Bhotia, Rai, Limbu Sherpa
Religions: Hindu
90% Buddhist 5% Muslim 3% other 2%
Languages: Nepali
(official) 20 other languages divided into numerous
dialects
Literacy: 27.5%
(male: 40.9% female: 14% )
People groups in Nepal:
The two major groups in Nepalese society are
Tibeto-Burmans, or Mongoloids from the north,
and Indo-Aryans from the south. Many customs
are inherited from both sides and have been
developed by the influences of the land, climate
and available resources.
The
largest groups can be divided on the basis of
geographical locations by altitude.
Click
here>>
to know
more on the people groups in nepal. Although
these accounts depict a fundamental description
of Nepalese ethnic groups, it is difficult to
pin point who is "ethnic" and who
is "non-ethnic", who is "indigennous"
and who is "non-indigenous" in a particular
place. Past migration histories mean Nepal seems
to be a melting pot. This is especially prevently
in urban areas.
Christianity
in Nepal:
From 15,000 in 1970 to an estimated 400,000
Christians today, Nepal has one of the fastest-growing
Christian populations among the 3.6 billion
people throughout Asia's 51 countries, according
to scholars in Christian missions. Almost all
the peoplegroups are receptive towards gospel
except the Brahminic Hindus.The hurdles for
the Gospel in Nepal are law literacy rate, threat
from Maoists, poor infrastructure and communication
facilities which leaves the remote areas inaccessible.
PGT
in Nepal:
A number of PGT Churches and fellowships are
worshipping God in Truth and Spirit, in Nepal
and the Indo-Nepal border areas. . The fall
into different categories of people groups.
We see the harvest in Nepal pleantyful and praying
to the Lord of harvest for more laborers and
resources to conquer this country with Gospel.
Politics
and social life in Nepal: Nepal,
known as the Hindu Kingdom, nestled
between China on the north and India on the
South has been in turmoil since 1996. That is
when the rebel Communists (Maoists) began their
attempt to overtake the monarchy/ democratic
government.
The Maoist party has instituted and enforced
bandhs; (forced shutdowns) blocked major highways,
slowed down and sometimes cut off the supply
of basics such as oil and food coming into cities.
Forcing loyalty through fear by raping and torturing
people in the villages, and bombing major highways,
the insurgents have murdered many several thousands.
As
a result, King Gyanendra took full control of
the alleged corrupt government ousting Prime
Minister, Deuba and turning the government into
a dictatorship, leaving democracy suspended.
The Royal Nepal Army is aggressively fighting
the Maoists where India and the US have attempted
to show their support for democracy by providing
arms.
Some
churches in the Kathmandu Valley have been closed
by the Maoists, yet in spite of severe persecution,
the Nepalese Christians are growing stronger
in their faith.
To
know more about our Nepal mission, write to
us or e-mail
us >>
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