What religion is practiced by most Sherpas?

What religion is practiced by most Sherpas?

• A. Animistic Buddhism
• B. Hinduism
• C. Christianity
• D. Islam

Answer: (A)

The question tests knowledge of the Sherpa majority’s religious tradition. Most Sherpas practice Tibetan Buddhism, deeply rooted in the Himalayan region, and their spiritual life also preserves animist elements—belief in spirits of mountains, rivers, and ancestors, plus shamans and nature-based rituals. When these threads are combined, the practice is often described as animistic Buddhism, capturing Buddhism as the guiding framework with persistent local animist influences in daily rites and festivals. While Nepal’s broader society includes Hindu practices and some Sherpas may participate in Hindu rituals, and Christianity or Islam are not the main traditions of the Sherpa community, the predominant pattern is Buddhism with animist elements.

The question tests knowledge of the Sherpa majority’s religious tradition. Most Sherpas practice Tibetan Buddhism, deeply rooted in the Himalayan region, and their spiritual life also preserves animist elements—belief in spirits of mountains, rivers, and ancestors, plus shamans and nature-based rituals. When these threads are combined, the practice is often described as animistic Buddhism, capturing Buddhism as the guiding framework with persistent local animist influences in daily rites and festivals. While Nepal’s broader society includes Hindu practices and some Sherpas may participate in Hindu rituals, and Christianity or Islam are not the main traditions of the Sherpa community, the predominant pattern is Buddhism with animist elements.