Nepal is best known as the home of the highest mountains in the world, but it also hosts millennia of cultural treasures. Two thousand years ago, Nepalis were building monuments to rival those of China and Rome. The pagoda temple was invented here and carried to the rest of this continent by a Nepali architect.
This week 99 paintings by Nepali schoolchildren are on display in the capital and on Facebook. All of the paintings were created in a single day at Patan Durbar Square, one of the main heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley, with sponsorship from a Nepali commercial bank.
The children’s art features temples, stupas (domed Buddhist monuments), and deities; mountains, festivals, and the birthplace of the Buddha in Lumbini.
As one would expect, the artistic merit of the works varies, but even those by the youngest students reflect their love of their country and heritage. Some of the paintings are very good indeed.
Five winners will be chosen, and each artist selected will receive about $200 in prize money. In addition the painting with the most “likes” on Facebook will also receive a prize.
Please Vote your preference and join the fun!
But this is more than just fun. Nepal’s culture and the seven world heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley alone are an important part of the country’s tourism industry. With World Tourism Day approaching, the country is acutely aware of just how important visitors who come for trekking, sightseeing, and pilgrimages are for the economy.
