Kathmandu, Aug. 5 (Reuters): Hindu activists protested in the Nepali capital today, saying the use of the word "secular" in the Himalayan nation's draft constitution would spur efforts by other religious groups to convert Hindus.

Hundreds of protesters wearing orange sashes blew conch shells and rang temple bells as they marched to a special Constituent Assembly tasked with writing the long-awaited charter.

"Our religion is facing a threat from the Christians who are proselytising. We want to stop it," said Madhav Bhattarai, the chief of the Eternal Hindu Front group that organised the protest.

Politicians working on Nepal's first post-monarchy Constitution face pressure to use the term "Hindu state", or include a guarantee of religious freedom.

Hindu political groups worry over evangelising efforts by Christians in a country where Hindus number more than 81 per cent of a population of 28 million, with Buddhists making up 9 per cent, Muslims 4.3 per cent and Christians under 2 per cent.

The number of Christians in Nepal is underestimated, said C. B. Gahatraj of the Federation of National Christian Nepal, adding that people were not being forced to convert to other religions.