DURGA

Renowned for killing Mahisasura, the buffalo demon, Durga is a wrathful form of Parvati. She is also known as Mahisha-mardini, one who killed the demon Maishasura and salvaged the human race from the tortures of demons. She is projected as the ferocious Goddess with many arms with a weapon in each of those hands. She is sometime shown holding the tail of her victim giving the impression that she could have held the body of the demon for killing him apparently at the very moment when the demon was about to draw his sword in self-defence. She is mostly shown sitting astride on top of a lion with her four hands holding in each a sword, a club, a louts flower and a dire in other hands. However, Her face always remains calm and gentle. Also see Parvati.

DUMJI

Unlike Mani Rimdu, Dumji festival of Sherpa community is the festival of the community as a whole and is observed on the full-moon day of Asadh (June). People rejoice on this day with their manifold festive activities including dancing and singing.

DUDH KOSI RIVER

Dudh kosi forms one of the seven components rivers of the Kosi river system which joins Sun Kosi near a place known as Jayaram Ghat. This river is believed to have originated from a pond in the Khumbu Himal which is known as Dudh Pokhari or the milk pond. It is named as such, perhaps, because of its milky-green glacial waters of the Everest region. Dudh means milk. 

DOTI

This is a district in Bheri Zone with headquarters in Silgadi. The population of this district is 207,066.

DOLPELI

Dolpeli or Dolpo is the name of the language spoken by Dolpos. A small population of 5,000 to 10,000 people according to 1998 census, Dolpeli is spoken mainly in the mountains of Dolpa. Major Dolpeli speaking areas are the villages of Goomatara, Kola, Tachel, Kani, Bajebara, Laun, Chilpara, Bantari, Byas which are all located at higher parts of above Dolpa until Tibet.

DOLPO

The inhabitants of Dolpa are known as Dolpos. They live in nearly 40 settlements scattered throughout the district of Dolpa at altitudes of 13,000 to 14,000 feet above sea level. Their physical features and habits largely resemble those of the Lhakpas, though the Dolpo women wear different and unique styled dresses and ornaments. They are farmers, but their chief occupation is animal husbandry. Religiously, they practice both Bon-po and Buddhism. Sky burial is their peculiar practice. As such, when someone dies they cut the dead body into pieces and subsequently feed to the vultures by throwing pieces of meat in the sky. Polyandry is a social practice, and their language and dress choices very much resemble Tibetan communities.

DOLPA

Dolpa or Dolpo is the name of a district as well as of a particular ethnic group. Dolpo is a remote district of Karnali zone which is located in the northern side of Dhaulagiri mountain range. This district is known for its wide, remote and distinctively different  geographical areas, scantly populated and difficult, and an un-spoilt, romantic topography. A small community of approximately 30,000 Dolpo’s live in this district in out-of-way villages in the high mountains. This small population lives in a number of villages scattered in wide areas between Karnali river on the southern side and the Tibetan border to the north. They speak their own native language also known as Dolpo or Dorpeli.

Dolpa district is still untouched by a road networks or linkage with other districts. The huge challenge it poses for transport and movement notwithstanding, this district is also an attraction for trekkers and tourists for the height its lakes are located in and the beautiful landscapes in the high-raised mountains. Rare species like the Nilgaai (meaning blue cow) are found in this district. Phoksumdo lake of this district is the highest lake in the world, situated at an altitude of 16,000 ft above sea level. Dunai is the headquarters of this district. Geographically one of the largest district, it has a population of merely 29,545.

DOLKHA

Dolakha is a hill district in the Janakpur zone. This district has a historic and cultural heritage and a number of important, religious shrines. Tamang and Newar traditions and cultural practices are important attractions of this district particularly for students of culture and anthropology. Charikot is the headquarters and the population of this district is 204,229.

DISTRICT OF NEPAL WITH ZONE

Nepal is divided into 75 administrative districts. Although all these districts are clustered into 14 Zones or Anchal’s, the districts are identifiable geographical units. Also See Zilla.

The names of all 75 districts are listed below alongside the Zones as they are located in:

Mechi Zone:  

Jhapa,  Ilam,  Panchthar, Taplejung    

Kosi Zone: 

Sankhuwasabha, Terhathum, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Morang and  Sunsari

Sagarmatha Zone:  

Solokhumbu, Khotang, Okhaldunga, Udayapur,  Saptari, Siraha

Janakpur Zone: 

Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi

Bagmati Zone:  

Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kabhrepalanchowk,  Sindhupalchowk

Narayani Zone: 

Makwanpur, Rauthat, Bara, Parsa, Chitwan, Gandaki Zone: Gorkha, Manang, Lamjung, Tanahun, Kaski,  Syangja

Lumbini Zone: 

Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu

Dhaulagiri Zone: 

Mustang, Baglung, Parbat,  Myagdi 

Rapti Zone: 

Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Pyuthan, Dang

Karnali Zone: 

Dolpa, Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Kalikot

Bheri Zone: 

Jajarkot, , Dailekh,  Surkhet, Banke, Bardia

Seti Zone: 

Bajura, Achham, Bajhang, Doti, Kailali

Mahakali Zone: 

Darchla, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur

DIPANKAR

Dipankar Buddha is a deity of Mahayana Buddhism. He is the ‘Enlightener’ and one of the earliest of the several predecessors of Gautam Buddha (who is considered as the twenty-fifth Buddha). Dipankar is believed to have hailed from Deepavati, a mythological abode. At the moment of his birth there was a miraculous manifestation of a large number of bright lamps or the Dipa’s in local term, hence he was named Dipankar, or the source of light.

Believed to have lived for millions of years on earth, Dipankar Buddha is projected with his right hand in Abhaya Mudra and left hand in Varada Mudra. He is depicted either in sitting or in standing postures with the monastic garment wrapped over the left shoulder with pleated edges where as the lower garment is pleated in a manner of a flowering skirt.