Nepali Word Meanings

JIREL

Jirel is the name of a small community of approximately 10 to 12 thousand people identifiable as a separate ethnic group. Jirels are mostly concentrated in the villages of Jiri and Jugu areas of the Dolkha district. Some sects of Jirels live in the districts of Nawalparasi and Rupandehi. Sizeable number of Jirels also live in Sindupalchok district. They speak a typical Tibeto-Burman dialect, akin to the Sherpa language. There are other Sherpa influences too, as evident from their lifestyles. They call themselves as Jirpas sounding like Sherpa. Both of those ethnic groups profess Buddhism and shamanism. They address the Buddhist Lama as Pemba and the shaman as Phomba. Traditionally being farmers, they cultivate millet and live happily off their produce. Jirels practice both systems of managing dead bodies, burying or cremating as per the recommendations of the Buddhist Lama.

JHAPA

A district of Mechi zone, Jhapa is known for its agricultural products like rice, hasish, mustard seeds, sugar cane, etc. Bhadrapur, a prominent town of Jhapa is thus a noted trade centre from where lots of agricultural products are exported abroad, specially to India.

Jhapa is one of the districts of Mechi Zone which is the eastern most zone of Nepal. This district is located at the entry point to Nepal coming from West Bengal State of India and also the exit point on way to Darjeeling. The most important rice growing area of the country, Jhapa is famous for tea estates, cross-border forests, various trade links and cultural heritage of diverse ethnic groups including Tharus and Satars. Having a population of 688,109 this district is administered from its Headquarters locate at Chandragadi.

JESTHA

Second month in the Nepalese calendar, Jestha begins by the middle of May. See Months of Nepal.

JANAKPUR ZONE

Covering an area of 3,920 square miles and comprising a population of (???), this zone stretches from the Tibetan border on its north to the Indian border in the south. On the east and on the west, it is bounded by Sagarmatha zone and Bagmati zone respectively. Situated partly in mountains an partly in the plains, this zone has all kinds regions such as snow clad mountains including Mt. Gaurishankar, high altitude mountains, low-altitude mountains valleys and plains etc. Minerals such as Coal, iron-ore, nickel etc. are found in this zone but are still to be exploited. There is also a huge potential for generating Hydroelectricity from the rivers, Kamala and Sun Kosi which also remains to be harnessed. The biggest cigarette factory of the kingdom is in this zone apart from many other small scale an cottage industries, the districts of this zone are Dolkha, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Mohattari, Sarlahi and Dhanusa.

JANAKPUR

Headquarters of Dhanusa district in Janakpur zone. Janakpur town is famous for the Janaki temple and various other holy places. The largest cigarette factory of the country (Janakpur Cigarette Factory) is also in this town.

JANAK

Sirdhwaj Janak was the King of Videha of which Mithila was the capital in the times of the great epic Ramayana. Mithila is now the Janakpur city of Dhanusa district in Nepal. A great philosopher and a learned man, Janak was a king of distinction who took his state to the height of development and enlightenment. Sita, the ideal woman and consort of Rama was the King Janak’s daughter. Rama being the son of Dasaratha, the King of Kosala, his marriage had led to closer ties between these two neighbouring states.

JANAI PURNIMA

is a Nepalese festival observed on the full moon day of (July). This festival is celebrated by the people of and is popularly known by many names like , , etc. And this is one of the most widely celebrated common festivals of the Buddhists and the Hindus. On this day one can see several Hindus going to the Buddhist temples and the Budhhists to the Hindu temples.

Nepali Word Meanings