DARCHULA

This is a district lies in the Mahakali zone and is located at the extreme western part of Nepal. It shares borders with Dharchula of Uttar Pradesh in India. The headquarter of this district is Khalanga. Darchula’s population is 121996.

DARAI

Darais are mainly found in Damauli of Tanahu District and on the banks of Madi River. Flat-nosed, short in stature and stout in built, Darais are prominently boatmen and fishermen. The Darai language is imbued with Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magar and Gurung languages. Darai women enjoy a place of esteem in their society. Darais marry after having children. They profess Buddhism, and alcohol accentuates their religious ceremonies.

DANUWAR

Akin to the Tharus in many ways, the traditional strongholds of the Danuwars are the Banke and Bardia districts. The Danuwars belong to four clans such as loincloth wearer, janai or the sacred thread wearer, Rai and Adhikari. The loincloth-wearing Danuwars live between the Chure and Mahabharat Ranges while the thread wearing ones live in the Terai plains. Rai and Adhikari Danuwars prefer the riverbanks. In religious matters, Danuwars are closer to the Tharu and Dhimal ethnic groups. Farming is their major occupations. 

DANG

Dang is one of the important districts of the Rapti Zone. Tribhuvannagar is the district headquarter. Dang’s population is 462380   . 

DANCE

Just as music, there are as many forms of dances as there are races, languages and religious faiths in Nepal. Folk dances are frequently performed during festivals and other occasions for entertainment. These days, representatives folk dances of various races of people are staged in a single programme in halls enabling locals as well as tourists to see these performances easily. Dances of Gurungs, Newars, Parbatiyas, Tamangs, Magars, Tharus, Bhotias, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Maithili and Madhises are generally performed. There are many kinds of classical as well as religious dances as well. Masked dances of the deities are performed during various occasions such as the Kali dance, Maha Luxmi dance, Four Betals dance, Lakhey dance, Khyak dance and so on. These dances depict the look, nature and different deities concerned. In Nepalese dances, the feelings and ideas are expressed in various mudras or poses made as part of the dances. These can be understood by anyone having some idea and habit of observing such dances.

DAKINI

A class or category of demon goddess. Dakini is the feminine version of Daka the term used for male demons. Dakini literally means “sky walking woman”, hence they are believed to be capable of flying. Also, Dakini is used as synonym for prajna or embodiment of wisdom.  Every Goddess is regarded as Dakini in that sense.  Such a Dakini may be designated as the female partner during Tantric initiation ceremonies and, thus, she can take both, human as well as superhuman forms. 

DAILEKH

Dailekh is a district in the Bheri zone. This remote district is adjacent to Surkhet and Jajarkot districts and is hardly linked by motorable road at some points. Dailekhbazar is its headquarters and its population  is 225,201 . 

DADELDHURA

A district in the Mahakali zone of far western region with its headquarters in Khalanga. Population of this district is 126,162.

COW

Cow is a sacred animal with a great role in the culture and religion of Nepal. Every part of the cow is sacred, precious and worth worshipping. Known as Gau-mata or the mother-cow, it is worshipped as goddess by Nepal’s Hindus. She is basically termed as  goddess Luxmi, the escort of God Vishnu, the preserver. It is therefore naturally the topmost and highly respected goddess. Following Hindu traditions and belief, cow slaughter is strictly prohibited and punishable by law here. Cow is also the national animal of Nepal.

CLIMATE

Climatically Nepal may be categorized as a monsoon country with clear climate-based seasons often divided into six seasons of two months each. They are Grishma (Summer), Barsha (Rainy), Sharad (Autumn), Hemant (Pre-winter), Sishir (Winter) and Basanta (Spring). However, climatic conditions differ very much from place to place depending upon many factors – the plains or the valleys or the hills or river basin besides such factors as the nature of wind, the face of the mountains, proximity to the sea, snow, forests and the like. Plain regions of the Terai are much hotter than mountain regions. Kathmandu valley situated mountain areas is at the altitude of 4300 feet from sea level. Temperature in Kathmandu during summer goes up to 34 or 35 degree Celsius where as its minimum temperature in winter is -2 degree Celsius. In Tarai the maximum temperature goes up beyond 44 degree Celsius where as in Himalayan regions in high altitude are usually sub-zero temperatures.