Alcohol In Nepal
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Alcohol (''Raksi'' or ''Madira'') It is legal to produce up to 60 litres of fermented beverage and distill 30 litres Raksi per year for personal consumption, but it's illegal to sell home-made ''Raksi'' spirit in
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
. The mixed society coupled with caste and multiple ethnic results in an extremely complex social structure which also generally affects alcohol consumption among the people based on their background. There are mainly two types of people in Nepal depending on alcohol use. The group of people who do not drink or use alcohol are called ''Tagadhari'' () (Holy Cord (''Janai'') Wearer), and the other group who drink alcohol are called ''Matawali''. Traditionally, the Brahmins and Kshatriyas are the Janai wearers and are forbidden from consuming alcohol, with the exception of ''Matwali Chhetris'' of Karnali region who are permitted to use alcohol. Alcohol also plays an important role in rituals, festivals and religious ceremonies. Matwalis largely use alcohol for their traditional purposes and generally brew alcohol by themselves. Peoples such as the Tharu,
Kirati people The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirat or Kirant or Kiranti, are Tibeto-Burman ethnolinguistic groups living in the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state o ...
, Magar,
Gurung Gurung (exonym; ) or Tamu (endonym; Gurung language, Gurung: ) are a Tibetan people, Tibetan ethnic group living in the hills and mountains of Gandaki Province of Nepal. Gurungs speak Tamu kyi which is a Sino-Tibetan language derived from the ...
, Tamang, and
Newars Newar (; , endonym: Newa; , Pracalit script: ), or Nepami, are primarily inhabitants in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and its surrounding areas, and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation. Page 15. Newars are a distinct linguisti ...
preserve these practices. Traditionally, Matwali men are allowed to drink freely while women are somewhat restricted from the open consumption of alcohol despite playing an instrumental role in the preparation of the beverage.


History

In Hindu culture, alcohol is often described as
Soma Soma may refer to: Businesses and brands * SOMA (architects), a New York–based firm of architects * Soma (company), a company that designs eco-friendly water filtration systems * SOMA Fabrications, a builder of bicycle frames and other bicycle ...
. In the epic of
Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
and
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...
, there are mentions of drinking alcohol by gods and goddesses as a recreational food. In ancient and medieval Nepal, the Kirats,
Shakyas Shakya ( Pāḷi: ; Sanskrit: ) was an ancient Indo-Aryan clan of the northeastern region of South Asia, whose existence is attested during the Iron Age. The Shakyas were organised into a (an aristocratic oligarchic republic), also known as ...
, Lichhavis, etc. had already formed a trade relationship with
Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, and
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from whence drinking culture probably entered Nepal. The Lele inscription of
Shivadeva I Shivadeva I (also spelled Sivadeva) was a king of the Licchavi dynasty who ruled Nepal from around 590 to 605 C.E. He was the son of Mana Deva II and lived in a nine-storeyed palace called the Kailashkut Bhavan. Political life In 598 C.E, a ...
and
Amshuverma Amshuverma or Amshu Verma () was a king of Nepal from around 605–621 CE. Initially a feudal lord, he rose to the position of ''Mahasamanta'' (equivalent to prime minister) in about 598 CE when Shivadeva I of the Licchavi dynasty was the ru ...
dated 526 AD mentioned alcohol as ''Paniyagosthi''. In the inscription of Jayalambha dated 413 AD, the word ''Karanapuja'' is used referring to the alcohol; the inscription was found near
Pashupatinath Temple Shri Pashupatinātha Temple () is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Pashupati, a manifestation of the god Śiva. Located on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, the temple is one of the oldest and most significant religiou ...
. The Christian Father
Ippolito Desideri Ippolito Desideri, SJ (21 December 1684 Pistoia, Grand Duchy of Tuscany – 14 April 1733 Rome, Papal States) was an Italian Jesuit missionary and traveller and the most famous of the early European missionaries who founded Catholic Church in ...
, who travelled Nepal about 1720, had a written account of a pungent-smelling liquor made from millet. He also mentions ''
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'', a drink made from wheat or rice. In modern Nepal, the Maluki Ain of 1854 categorically classified Nepalese society into five categories. One of them was the ''Tagadhari'' who were not allowed to drink, while the remaining four were allowed to drink. In the modern constitution, however, there is no such distinction and everyone is equally allowed to use alcohol according to their personal preference.


Tradition and religion

Alcohol is used for various rituals by various indegeneious communities especially the one influenced by Tantric methods. Some are described below.


Sherpas

Sherpas The Sherpa people () are one of the Nepalese ethnic groups native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal, India, and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. The majority of Sherpas live in the eastern regions of Nepal, namely the Solukhum ...
use alcohol in marriage and festivals extensively. It is also given to the new mothers as ''Dejyang''. When used as a business settlement, it is called ''Chhongjyang''.


Newars

''Ha Thon'' is a festival to worship Swyeta Bhairab in which the ''Samayabji'' and ''Aila'' is distributed as the blessing of Bhairab. Alcohol also forms a part of Sagan. In gathering and festival (''Bhoj''), liquor is generally served by a female.


Tharus

During the marriage, alcohol is offered to deities called ''Deuryar''. In the hair cutting ritual celebrated in Falgun (February -March), alcohol is offered to deities to accept the ritual's starting. Drinking and dancing are one of the core cultures of Tharus.


Kirat

In the Kirati community, a marriage proposal is not accepted by the girl's family unless the groom sends them alcohol on three occasions as ''Sodhani'', ''Multheki'' and '' Bhakah''. Kirati also use alcohol for various rituals and to worship gods and goddesses.


Tamang

Groom needs to send 18 or 12 bottles of liquor to bride's house for marriage known as ''Chukunlah Pong''. When someone dies, alcohol is offered to the deceased. The daughter brings alcohol to serve the funeral participants.


Magar

Couples are not allowed to go to the bride's home after marriage without taking wine and a leg of goat. This is called ''Duran''.


Gurung

Similar to kirati culture, Gurung family's marriage initiation also starts by sending alcohol to the bride's family by the groom. They also use alcohol as an offering to the deceased person.


Types of alcohol

* Aila: It is a distilled alcohol. The term ''Aila'' is used by Newars, ''Madh'' by Tharus and ''Daru'' in southern Nepal. *
Raksi Raksi (Devanagari:रक्सी) (Bantawa language: Hengmawa/Hengma, Limbu language: Sijongwaa aara, Nepal Bhasa: aila) is the Nepali term for a traditional distilled alcoholic beverage in Nepal, India (Darjeeling, Sikkim) and Tibet. It is of ...
: Raksi is a general term to refer to traditionally distilled alcohol. *
Tongba Tongba ( ) is a millet-based alcoholic beverage found in the eastern mountainous region of Nepal and neighbouring Indian regions of Sikkim and Darjeeling. It is a sign of respect to a guest, and the drink is also an important element of speci ...
: It is the traditional and indigenous drink of the
Limbu people The Limbu (Limbu language, Limbu: ) are a Sino-Tibetan ethnolinguistic group indigenous to the Himalayan region of eastern Nepal, northeastern India and western Bhutan. In India, the Limbus live in the Indian state, states of Sikkim, Assam, N ...
as well as people of other Kirati communities and many other ethnic group of Nepal. . It is home-brewed fermented beer that is drunk by mixing with hot water. It is native to eastern Nepal. *
Chhaang Chhaang or chhyang (, , ) is a Nepalese and Tibetan alcoholic beverage popular in parts of the eastern Himalayas among the Yakkha, Limbu, Dura, Newar, Sunuwar, Rai, Bhutia, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa, Tamang, Tharus and Lepcha communities. Amon ...
: It is a sweet-tasting, home-brewed beer by Sherpas. It is also known as ''Ji'' by Tamangs, ''Thon'' by Newars, ''Phee'' by Thakalis, ''Jand'' by Gurngs and kiratis, ''Muna'' by Majhis and ''Janra'' by Tharus. * Tin Pani: It means 3 times water in Nepali. It is traditional distilled alcohol prepared by changing the condencing water for only 3 times . * Arac: A drink made from wheat or rice, used in Medieval Nepal. * Thon: A term used by Newars for a
fermented drink This is a list of fermented foods, which are foods produced or preserved by the action of microorganisms. In this context, Fermentation in food processing, fermentation typically refers to the fermentation of sugar to ethanol, alcohol using yeas ...
* Jaad: traditional, home-brewed beer * Nigar: Same as Jaad, terms used in eastern Nepal *
Mada Mada () is a term used in both Hindu theology and mythology. It is one of the Arishadvargas. It refers to one of the six enemies of the mind or a vice according to the Hindu scriptures. It is the Hindu equivalent of Pride from the seven deadly ...
: Distilled Spirits in the hilly and Himali region of Eastern Rukum () File:Tongba_-_Nepalese_fermented_millet_beer.jpg, Tongba File:Newari Anti with Khola.jpg, Anti, a vessel in which to keep Aila File:EVEREST SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION BEER POKHARA NEPAL FEB 2013 (8510731451).jpg, Industrial Beer File:Tongba Chowk, Hile, Dhankuta, Nepal.jpg, Intersection dedicated to
Tongba Tongba ( ) is a millet-based alcoholic beverage found in the eastern mountainous region of Nepal and neighbouring Indian regions of Sikkim and Darjeeling. It is a sign of respect to a guest, and the drink is also an important element of speci ...


Traditional Breweing


Beer

A typical traditional beer brewing technique in Nepal consist of following steps: #The grain is wetted for few hours and then kept in a large earthen pot with holes in bottom ''(Ghyampo)'' #It is then transferred to copper vessel ''(Potasi)'' and boiled in hot water for about two hours #After boiling, it is cooled and a piece of charcoal(''hyangva'') and chilly (''Malta'')) is kept over the grain to protect it from evil # Yeast (''Marcha'') is added (about the ratio of 1:80) and let the grain for fermentation # after a week, the mix is put in an earthen pot (''Tyapa'') and covered with leaves in the top and sealed. At this point, the grain is called ''Haja'' or ''Ium'' #Water is poured after about four days in the process called ''La Tayagu'' #After about six hours, liquid changes to beer


Consumption

According to statistics, about of rice is used to brew alcohol by Newar family annually, 110 kg by Sherpas, 160 kg by Khumbu and Rolwalingis. Tamang uses 80 kg and 400 kg by Tharus.


Industries

Alcohol industry is one of the fastest-growing industry in Nepal. There are 36 alcohol producing industries in Nepal as of 2000. These industries produces alcohol with concentration of 20%, 34%, 40% and 42.8%. Similarly, beers are produced with a concentration of 5 to 7% alcohol. The total production capacity is about 42 M liters per year. Besides, alcohol is also imported from Europe, America and Japan.


Regulation

Production and consumption of alcohol is controlled by the ''Madira Aain 2031''. Licence is required to sell alcohol. However, it permits brewing and consumption for household purposes without a license. In 2017, a regulation was passed to set minimum age of 21 for alcohol purchase, regulate time of alcohol sales, require licensing of alcohol outlets and impose a ban on all kinds of alcohol advertisements and promotions. It also includes pictorial warning signs in the label of alcohol.


References

{{Asia topic, Alcohol in Alcohol in Nepal