Page 93 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

Characteristics of Nepalese family
Unlike other common families in the world, Nepalese have sense of love, respect,
co-operation and justice among each other. But, Nepalese families have some typical
characteristics which have made them unique in the world. Some of the major
characteristics of Nepalese family are described below:

a. Joint family system
In Nepal, many people live in joint family in which there
is living together of 3/4 generations in the same home.
There is proper work division, proper security, support
during emergency and other occasions, proper caring of
children, old and diseased ones. The joint family system
is rare in other parts of world especially in western
societies.
Fig: 8
b. Traditional marriage
Many Nepalese like to have arranged or traditional
marriage no matter how much educated they are.
Parents search appropriate bride and bridegroom for
their children and manage every thing for their marriage
which is totally different from western culture.

c. Monogamous marriage Fig: 9

In Nepal, people like to get married only once in life. Even after marriage, they live
together for the rest of life. They take marriage as a precious bond. There is strong bond
between husband and wife. Even after the death of spouse, they remain single and do not
like to get married again. In our country, it is not considered good to marry more than
once. It is totally different from western culture as people can marry many times there.

d. Proper caring of children
In our context, children are loving and dearing ones.
Parents love their children very much. Parents sacrifice
a lot even their happiness, discomfort, tension, rest,
business, busy schedule, etc. for the sake of children.
This type of features is different than many societies in
the world.
Fig: 10
e. Proper guidance of children

In our context, parents are very much worried about bright future of their children. They
guide their children in every step of life. They prepare background for their children
to make them independent. This type of characteristics is totally different from western
culture as children leave home and start independent life after late teenage there.

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 93