Nepal is a country - about the size of England - set high in the mountains north of India. It is very poor and many people live entirely on what they can grow. The high mountains mean that there are many places where there are no roads and people have to walk over steep mountain paths.

Most people in Nepal are Hindus. They say hello to each other with the greeting 'Namaste', which means, 'I greet the god at work in you'.

The Nepali language is written in an alphabet called Devanagri, which is very different from English.

Boys and men in Nepal wear a hat called a topi. Topis are decorated with patterns of waves and lines, and, when worn, are supposed to stand up in peaks rather like the mountains of Nepal, the Himalayas.

The Church in Nepal

The Christian Church in Nepal is only about 50 years old and is very small. But soon, it hopes to have two million members.

Nepali Christians also use 'Namaste' to greet each other. Before entering church, (or any other house for that matter) Nepalis remove their sandals or shoes. Inside the church, the men and women sit separately in rows on the floor.

The minister is always a man. Sometimes women may give a sermon or lead prayers. Usually, when they pray, Nepali women cover their heads with a long scarf.

The following words are a Nepali version of 'This is the day that the Lord has made'. (Junior Praise No. 255)

Aja Ko Din

Aja ko din
Aja ko din
Unle sree je ka
Unle sree je ka

Romaundai jaun
Khushee manow
Ra ananda Garoun
Ra ananda Garoun

Aja ko din
Unle sree je ka
Romaundai jan
Khushee manow

Aja ko din
Aja ko din
Unle sree je ka
Unle sree je ka

Prayer Flags

Nepali people have always offered prayer flags to their gods. Yak tails, nailed to a pole, 'carry' prayers on the wind and bring blessings on the valleys below.

Some Nepali Christians also offer prayer flags, writing verses from the Bible on huge flags which fly from poles above their homes.

Activities

• Use cloth and fabric pens to create a prayer flag.
• Sing 'Aja Ko Din'.
• Follow the instructions to make a topi.
• Follow the instructions to write Namaste and two sentences in Nepali.

Information on this page has been provided by the Church Mission Society.