Mt. Everest is the highest peak in the world. Tenzing Norgay, a sherpa, first successfully climbed this peak. Sherpas guide tourists in climbing this mountain.
Mount Everest is a Himalayan Peak with a height of 29,028 ft above sea level. This is the highest peak in the world.
In May 29, 1953, a sherpa named Tenzing Norgay created history by being the first to reach the summit successfully.
The word sherpa means “people from the east.” Sherpas were known to be from the eastern Tibetan Province of Khams. They moved from Tibet south to Nepal. They have preserved much or their culture despite living in another county now. They have preserved their Tibetan language, their clothing, and Lamaism religion.
Their religion is a combined belief of Buddhism and the Tibetan Superstitions. They have Buddhist monks called “lamas.” They lived in a place called Tengpoche Monastery. This place is the leading center located in the Everest region. The sherpas believe that the mountains bring them to the religious truth.
They also have their own “living Buddha,” – Dalai Lama – the highest spiritual leader.
Sherpas live their lives as farmers. They practice planting and raising animals as their means of living. They plant potatoes, raise barley, wheat, and corn. They also have herds of animals like cows and yaks.
The Sherpa had used the yaks for their clothing since they are long haired. They also used the yaks’ hair for tents. Yaks have been a very important tool for commerce this time.
In 1960, new schools were built for the Sherpas because many of them were not able to read and write. This made it possible for young Sherpas to go to high school and even college.
Tourism had become the leading livelihood of the Sherpas during the 20th century. Because of this, farming, which was the first means to earn a living, became secondary. The shift to tourism was brought about by the insurgence of tourists wanting to try climbing the highest peak of the world.
Sherpas acted as guides of tourist climbers. They earned more for these expeditions than farming. The Sherpas also act as porters for the heavy loads and supplies that the mountaineers bring. They were also the ones who cook the meals of the mountaineers. As the mountaineers ascend higher and become more tired, they become more dependent on these Sherpas.
Sherpas were initially not paid for their guiding services. Luckily, as years passed, the government put strict regulations to protect the life of the sherpas. They insisted that Sherpas must be paid more. They must be provided with safety equipments to use. They should also be provided insurance for their safety in case they got injured or killed.
As the number of tourists grew, Mt. Everest became more commercial. Hotels and other lodgings sprouted nearby to accommodate visitors. Yet for the Sherpas, Mount Everest is remains a sacred place. They complete a certain ritual before setting their foot on it. There are also ceremonies done by monks as a blessing for the expeditions. Their campsites are also protected by sprinkling of holy water.
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