Faces: People, Places, and Cultures articles from April 2005

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures archives from April 2005

Mystery photo.
April 1, 2005... Do you know what this is? The photograph shows a terraced hillside in Nepal. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Editor's message.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
April 1, 2005... Dear Reader, For centuries, Nepal was cut off from the rest of the world. Surrounded by two more dominant powers, India and China, the nation of Nepal chose to keep itself and its people isolated. Today, travel into and out of the country...

Nepal.(At a Glance)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Official Name: Kingdom of Nepal Location: Located on the southern slopes of the Himalaya Mountains, with India to the south, east, and west, and China to the north Area: 56,827 square miles Population: 27,070,666 (July 2004...

Nepal.(Only In ...)(Rhinoceroses)
April 1, 2005... Only 100 years ago, some Indian rhinoceros populations had dwindled to as little as 20 animals. Thanks to strict government protection in Chitwan National Park and other Nepalese sanctuaries, the Indian rhino, once at the brink of extinction,...

In the know.
April 1, 2005... Look for the following people, places, and things in this issue. Himalaya Mountains (him-a-LAY-a): A mountain range located in south-central Asia. Kathmandu (KAT-man-doo): The capital of Nepal, It is located in the Himalaya Mountains....

Welcome to Nepal.(Nepali culture)
April 1, 2005... Wedged between two enormous neighbors, India (to the south, east, and west) and China (to the north), the small Asian nation of Nepal has a proud history of its own. It is a history shaped by isolation, both geographic and political. Though...

Nepal.(Through Time)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... * 800 B.C. Nepal has been ruled by the Kirats for nearly 1,000 years. It is during this period that the great Buddha is said to have been king. * A.D. 300 The Lichhavi period begins. * 602 The Thakuri period of rule begins. * 1200...

Please pass the yak butter.(Nepali culture)
April 1, 2005... Imagine eating every meal with your fingers. Not just sandwiches that are easy to hold, but bits of white rice mixed with gooey lentil soup and spicy vegetables that stain your hands orange. Now imagine eating this meal twice a day for your...

Cultivating prosperity.(agricultural industry in Nepal)
April 1, 2005... "Agriculture is the essence of life," according to the Nepal Agricultural Research Council. An estimated 90 percent of Nepalese participate in farming, which is vital to Nepal's economy. Because only about 25 percent of Nepal's territory is...

What to wear in Kathmandu.
April 1, 2005... Every morning in Kathmandu the streets are full of color. Children skip to school in red, blue, and orange uniforms. Women carrying infants wrapped in striped baby clothes walk to shops wearing bright dresses. Fathers dressed in trousers,...

The conquest of Mt. Everest?
April 1, 2005... At 11:30 A.M. on May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa climbing partner Tenzing Norgay stepped onto the summit of Mt. Everest, becoming the first humans ever to reach the highest point on the Earth's surface. Of that moment, Hillary...

Teaching Nepalis to read, plant, and vote.
April 1, 2005... Seventy years ago, a boy named Bishnu Prasad Dhungel was not allowed to go to school. As a result, thousands of Nepalis have learned to read and write. This is the remarkable story of Bishnu, his son Dinesh, and Dinesh's wife Ratna. When...

Make your own prayer flags.
April 1, 2005... Prayer flags are special flags that are decorated with good luck symbols and words. The flags are hung outside where they can blow in the wind. It is thought that the wind carries the prayers, bringing good luck to everybody in the area. ...

Newar metalworkers of the Kathmandu Valley.
April 1, 2005... On the south bank of the Bagmati River across from Kathmandu lies the ancient city of Patan. Sometimes called Lalitpur, "City of Beauty," it has long been famous for outstanding metal, wood, and stone craftsmanship. After the Buddhist and Hindu...

Ask faces.
April 1, 2005... Here is your chance to send us your world culture--and geography-related questions! Each month, our expert will answer several questions from readers like you. Mail your questions (along with your name, age, and hometown) to Ask FACES,...

Think about it.
April 1, 2005... In the article about the Thapa family, you will read about the many ways life is different for Viraj and Paras than it was for their parents when they were children. Perhaps it was the same in your family. To find out what life was like for...

Face facts.
April 1, 2005... THIS HOME HAS BEEN VERY RESPECTFUL WILL SHOWER IT WITH RICHES! Whistling in Nepalese homes is not allowed, as it offends the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, Laxmi (pronounced LOCKS-schmee). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Kumari: a living goddess.
April 1, 2005... Six-year-old Preeti Shakya is Nepal's Kumari, a living goddess. Actually, Hindus believe goddess Taleju, guardian of Nepal's royal family, is living in Preeti's body. Preeti lives in her own palace in Kathmandu. Servants hover over her and...

Home on two continents.(Thapa family )
April 1, 2005... Some families feel like they have two homelands, such as the Thapa family of Concord, New Hampshire, originally from Kathmandu, Nepal. This family includes, Pratap (PT), Sunita (Su), and their two sons, Paras, who is 19, and Viraj, 15 years...

The evergreen and the rhododendron: a play based on a Nepalese folktale.(Play)
April 1, 2005... Characters: Narrator, Pip (the papal or banyan tree), Bandevi (the goddess of the forest), Utti (the uttis, an evergreen tree growing in ravines), and Rhoda (the laligurans, or rhododendron). Narrator: Long, long ago, in the Himalaya...

From the Mango Tree and Other Folktales from Nepal.(book)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... From the Mango Tree and Other Folktales from Nepal by Kavita Ram Shrestha and Sarah Lamstein This entry from the World Folklore series contains 16 tales from Nepal. They are prefaced with an overview of the region's history, people,...

I, Doko, The Tale of a Basket.(book)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... I, Doko, The Tale of a Basket by Ed Young Doko, the subject of this wonderfully retold folk story, is a basket that serves generations of a Nepalese family while illustrating the importance of generational love and respect so important...

Nepal.(book)(Brief Article)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Nepal by Ann Heinrichs The varieties of geography and religion are key to the understanding of Nepal, and both are well covered in this entry from the Enchantment of the World series. The descriptions of steamy jungles and snowy...

Kanu of Kathmandu.(book)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Kanu of Kathmandu by Barbara A. Marguiles Kanu is an eight-year-old native of Nepal, and this is his tour of his country. The son of a hotel manager in the capital city of Kathmandu, Kanu takes readers on a trip through the cities,...

Nepal.(book)(Brief Article)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Nepal by Jon Burbank Bhaat Khanu bhaeyo? This Nepalese greeting, meaning "Have you eaten rice?," is just one of the interesting customs explained in this entry from the Cultures of the World series. The chapter on food includes several...

Environment Nepal.(On-line)(www.environment nepal.com )
April 1, 2005... Lots of information and fun are crammed into this Web site. News and articles pertaining to the ecology of Nepal are here, along with many fun ways to learn. Sections on environmental heroes, ecotips, quizzes, and letters all make for a site...

Nepal on-Line.(On-line)(www.nepalhomepage.com )
April 1, 2005... Current and historical information abounds on this site. A particularly strong section on the Himalayas details history and past expeditions. Almost every other subject is covered here, too. Government, politics, arts, and entertainment are all...

Nepal tourism board.(On-line)(www.welcomenepal.com)
April 1, 2005... Would you like to take an imaginary trip to Nepal? On this Web site, you can watch mini-videos of everything from riding an elephant to going on a mountain flight. This site also provides general information about Nepal, its people, culture,...

The Rubin Museum of Art.(Museums)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Opened in October 2004, the Rubin Museum of Art is the first museum in the country dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions. Included in the collection are paintings, sculptures, and textiles. The museum also sponsors...

One last face.
April 1, 2005... "Come visit my country again!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]