ATITHI DEVO BHAVA
Nepal is a land of diverse ethnicities with 123 different ethnic groups to be precise , having their own set of customs and traditions . Despite this diversity there is one thing that unifies all these diverse people who proudly call themselves Nepali and Himalayan , which is thein innate sense of hospitality .
‘ Atithi Devo Bhava ’ which translates to ‘ Guest is God ’ is a common belief across all cultures in Nepal where guests are considered to be a form of god or guest of gods themselves . This statement prescribes a dynamic of the guest-host relationship which includes the conventional Hindu-Buddhist ideology of treating visitors with the same reverence as a divinity .
The phrase ‘ Atithi Devo Bhava ’ has been extracted from the Taittiriya Upanishad ( a Sanskrit text from the Vedic era ), which has the following mantras in Shikshavalli I . 11.2 : “ matrudevo bhava , mitradevo bhava , pitrudevo bhava , putradevo bhava , acharyadevo bhava , and atithidevo bhava .” “ Be one for whom the mother is god , be one for whom the friend is god , be one for whom the father is god , be one for whom the child is god , be one for whom the teacher is god , and be one for whom the guest is god ” is how it translates to English .
Women cooking outdoors in Shreeantu . Photo by RMT .
Nepal , which is known as the Abode of Gods , is not just well known for its medieval architectural haven , but it ’ s quite famous for its hospitality as well . If you ’ ve already been here , then chances are you might have experienced a wholehearted welcome into a Nepali household .
Hospitality in Nepali society is common across all castes and cultures . Nepali people put extra effort in order to serve their guests . This practice of hospitality dates back to years as we can hear old stories of travelers visiting unknown places for trade and business . Despite their anonymity , these travelers were welcomed to stay in villages with open arms . These practices are still relevant in many rural parts of Nepal . We can often hear the term ‘ baas basnu ’ when any individual requests a host to spend a night in their homes .
It ’ s the belief in this notion of guests as a form of divinity that is reflected in many Nepali households . Nepali people are often known for going out of their way to help anyone , especially their guests . Sometimes these gestures can be overwhelming for foreigners since most of them aren ’ t used to such kind of hospitality .
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