Officially, Nepal is a Hindu Kingdom, but, in practice, competing influences from India in the south and Tibetan Buddhism in the north, have led to a unique blend of religion. It is often very hard to separate the two strands: never more so than in some of the local gods that are worshipped as both Hindu and Buddhist. Of the primarily Hindu deities, Shiva is possibly the most important. He is recognisable from the ever-present trisul (trident) and drum that symbolise his dual-role as creator and destroyer.