MACHHAPUCHHR, MT.

More than for its height, Mt. Machhaprchhre is famous for its heart catching beauty. This peak 22,942 ft. is one of the many peaks of Annapurna Himal range. Considered to be one of the most beautiful peaks of the world this isolated pyramidal peak can ve viewed from Pokhara town of Nepal. 

LUXMI

Luxmi is known as the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Consort of Vishnu, she is generally associated with elephant, tortoise, jewels, jars etc. During Deepawali or Tihar festival, Luxmi is worshipped in every Hindu family and her place is there in the treasure rooms of every house. The other names of Luxmi are Indira, Hira, Chanchala, Loka-mata etc.  Luxmi is also spelt as Laxmi.

LUMBINI ZONE

Area: 3650 square miles. Population:....... Situated partly in mountain region and partly in the Terai, this zone has many valleys and rivers. Kali, Budhigandaki and Tinau rivers flow at various regions of this zone. Agriculture being the preeminent occupation of the people here, rice, sugarcane, tobacco, oilseeds etc. are grown in abundance. Minerals found in this zone are copper, iron, limestone, slate etc. Though some of the places like Palpa, Butwal etc. are known for handicraft works, the zone as a whole is still lagging behind in the field of small scale and cottage industries. Transport facilities are in developing stage. As Lumbini garden, the birth place of Lord Buddha is in this zone, there is a great possibility of advancement of this zone in the field of tourism, transport facilities and trade eventually causing overall development. The district of this zone are Nawalparasi, Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Rupandehi and Kapilvastu. 

LUMBINI

A famous pilgrimage in the southwest Nepal has been an invaluable depository of Buddhism since Gautam Buddha was born there 543 B.C.  Preserved there are the image of Maya Devi, mother of the Buddha, and many other valuable images and structures. World renowned sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site, Lumbini is also a place of great attraction for tourists. Lumbini lies in the district of Rupendehi which used to be an independent   kingdom at the time of Lord Buddha.

 Emperor Ashok of India had visited Lumbini as a memory of which a stone pillar was erected by him with some dectiptive  inscription in Sanskrit which when translated reads as follows: 

 “When Devanmpriya Priyadarsan  (that is how Emperor Ashok was known as being popular among gods) had been anointed 20 years, he visited in person, worshipped this spot for its being the birth pale of Buddha Sakyamuni, he caused to make stone horse(?) And also to set up a stone pillar (in order to mark the spot where the Buddha was born). “

The discovery of the inscription made by Dr. A. A. Fuhrer in December 1896AD  has fixed firmly the very spot of the Lumbini grove where under a sal tree Siddhartha Gautam Buddha was born to Maya Devi, more than 2,500 years ago. Richly endowed with history and having stored remnants of valuable ancient oriental arts in old monasteries, this place is attracting many tourists from abroad. 

A pond in the Lumbini garden which used to be the bathing place of Lord Buddha at his early age was excavated in 1931 and is now preserved for all to see. Famous pilgrims of past like Fa-hsien and Huen Tsang, the famous scholars of ancient China who made the long arduous journey to visit this place have mentioned about it in their scriptures. 

A comprehensive plan has been made in International scale at the initiative of United Nations to build up this area so as to suit for all types of visitors. Provision of beautiful gardens, rest houses, libraries, monasteries constructed by many countries of the world depicting their national architecture, transport and communication facilities and various other attractions are featured in the plan. Manifold actions are under way and a lot of construction works have been completed as well. A wide campaign for raising fund for completion of remaining parts of the plan is under way in Nepal and many other countries of the world. 

LOSHAR

This is celebrated every year on Tibetan New Year’s Day which falls on Parewa (First) day of Falgun (February). On this day the Sherpas perform their monotonous but highly rhythmic folk songs and dances in groups known as Sheru and in 2 to 4 known as Nangding Solu. This Loshar festival arouses in all Sherpa and Bhotia areas a festive mood that continues for weeks starting from the first day of Falgun (February). This day is being the Tibetan New Year day, they dance in groups, sing folk songs and organise feasts, all in their own costumes and traditions. 

LOKESWAR

Lokeswar means the Lord of the world and that it is one of the aspects of Avalokiteswar in that capacity. Lokeswar is depicted as the master of the world, who is unmatchably strong and powweful as well as all prevailing and watchful all the time.  Many of his symbols,  description of his demonstrated strength and characteristics very much resembles with those of Lord Shiva of Hindu trinity. 

LOKAPALAS

Eight points of the compass consisting of four cardinal directions and four intermediate points are supposed to be guarded and looked after by eight guardian deities who are called Lokapalas or those who support the universe. The following Lokapalas are the presiding deities of these directions:- 1. Indra-east 2. Agni-southeast 3. Yama-south 4.surya-southwest 5. Varuna-West 6. Vayu-Northwest 7. Kuvera-North 8. Soma-northeast. 

LINGAM

Lingam is the symbol of Lord Shiva, the regenerator. Lingam, a cylindrical shaped image corresponding to the male reproductive organ is found at innumerable places of worship. Some of those images are just natural and installed for worshipping where as most of the images are man made or artificial. Generally cylindrical shaped and smooth topped Lingam is found standing upright installed on top of Yoni, the female organ which is shaped like a disc lying flat with a drain elongated on one side. This Yoni signifies creative energy that revolves around and the Lingam, though passive, is the centrifugal force of the wheel of existence. 

Linga without yoni is only to represent the formless Supreme consciousness. There are many oval shaped holy lingams without Yoni in Nepal. They are all to remind us of he supreme source of creation. Yajurveda in support of this point says that every thing of this universe is manifested from the dazzling divine light called Jyotirlinga. The scientific version of the same story is that this planet in the beginning was only a flaming piece of the solar planet.

LIMBU

Just like Rai, Limbu is also a branch of Kirati race and very much resemble with other races of Kirati in their way of life, language and culture. They are found settled mostly towards east of Arun river in eastern Nepal. They have much respect for their community and customs, and keep up their ancient rituals by all means. Their region gets sufficient monsoon rain making their cultivated areas very fertile and, thus, their economic condition is generally good. 

The word limbu means an archer, or bearer of bow and arrows. The Limbu peole belong to the Kirant confederation. Their ancestral and original stronghold spans from Arun River in Nepal to the Kingdom of Sikkim in the east. In Nepal, Limbus live and work in the districts of Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Taplejung, Panchthar and Ilam. Their scripture is called Mundhum. Fedangba, Shamba and Yewa-Yema are their priests. They celebrate the dance festivals of Kelangma popularly known Chyabrung (two-sided drum) and Yarakma (Paddy dance) as major events. Limbu have their own script called Sirijunga. There are many books written in the Limbu language. Their faith is onshrined in the evergreen Cynodondactylon (Dubo) grass the rocks. They bury their dead. The population of the Limbus, according to the census of 1991, is 2.4% of the nationla total.

LIKHU KHOLA RIVER

One of the seven component rivers of Kosi River System, Likhu Khola, having originated from Rolwaling Himal meets Sun Kosi at Lilangjor, southeast of Ramechhap. This river also forms natural boundary between Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga districts.