
In Nepal, especially in the Kathmandu Valley and its neighbourhood, Bahals and bahils (special Buddhist residential areas) are in existence in Shakya and Bajracharya Communities which clearly signify that they are particular lay Buddhist who have direct connections with Buddhism applied in domesticity and Community.
'Sangha' concept of Buddhism is duly applied in way of life of Shakya and Bajracharya inhabitants of those bahals and bahils. Shakyas and Bajracharya Communities of Nepal live in their Buddhist Culture and Customs which are alive and have been handed down from generation generation. Shakya and Bajracharya from communities live in their particular bahal and bahils following their own code of conduct and discipline through age-old rites and rituals and customs. The inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley are exhibiting their devotion and feeling of respects for Buddhism as a way of life rather than just religion. In Sangha system, Shakya and Bajracharya work to decide in community with fellow beings in anything. Such a practice reminds us of Santhagara system of Kapilvastu, Kingdom of Buddha's time. The Santhagara system applied by Shakya Kingdom of Kapilvastu was in fact a crude form of modern day parliamentary system.
Shakya and Bajracharya communities and other Buddhists gave humanistic approach to Buddhism by giving concrete forms to their devotion, dedications, religious feelings and views for the cause of Buddhism and its prepagation by creating beautiful arts and architecture, idols, images, painting and carving etc. Even today, they are upholding Sanghadana and Panchadana (offerings) to their Sangha (Community). A unique Buddhist custom of Chudakarma or prabajya (ordination) is a compulsory ritual that a Shakya and Bajracharya boy should undergo. It is an age-old practice of Buddhist Community of Shakya and Bajracharya with symbolic significance, the act of reminiscence to cherish the memory of the prince Siddhartha's great renunciation, prior to long march of 'Mahabhiniskramana' to enlightenment. This ritual also reminds us ofBuddha's serene and pure life of righteousness and dharma until his Mahaparinirvana and motivates to observe such a pure life at least for a few days. Besides, in those communities, there have been traditions of raciting Buddhists sutras and lines from sacred books and worshipping them regularly. There have been customs in the valley of Kathmandu to amke round trips to Buddhist monasteries and temples on the auspicious days and months and performing of indegenous dances of Buddhist deities
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