Nepal is a Hindu kingdom, and the king is looked upon as the protector and is deified as the earthly manifestation of the Hindu god, Vishnu. This central place of Hinduism in Nepal's political set up has been accepted by all segments of the population. Before the advent of the Gorkha rule in the 18th century, Buddhism was a flourishing religion in the region.
The Gorkha rulers projected Nepal's distinct identity as Hindu state. The Hinduisation of the kingdom was completed by the Rana rulers who brought the various ethnic groups into the Hindu social hierarchy through the Civil Code of 1854. 'The codification and standardisation of religious and social practices led to the assimilation of many ethnic groups into the dominant Nepali culture. A vast majority of today practice a syncretic blend of Hinduism, Buddhism and/or animist traditions.
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