Newar people

The Newar people are a special and historic group who live mainly in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and the areas around it. They created much of the valley's rich history and culture. Newars have their own language called Nepal Bhasa and mostly follow two religions: Newar Hinduism and Newar Buddhism. They are known for their unique traditions, art, and way of life, which are very different from other groups in the Himalayan foothills.

Newars have made important contributions to art, literature, trade, farming, and food. They take great pride in protecting Nepal's religious and cultural heritage. Today, they are often considered one of the most successful groups in Nepal in terms of education, health, and living standards. According to the 2021 Nepal census, there are about 1.3 million Newars, making them the 8th largest ethnic group in the country. Their ancestors came from many different places and cultures, creating a rich and diverse community that has lasted for thousands of years.

Origin and etymology

The words "Nepāl", "Newār", "Newāl" and "Nepār" are different ways of saying the same name, used at different times in history. "Nepal" is the formal literary form from Sanskrit, while "Newar" is the everyday spoken form from Prakrit. An old inscription from the year 512 in Tistung, west of Kathmandu, says "greetings to the Nepals", showing that "Nepal" was used for both the land and its people.

The word "Newar" meaning "inhabitant of Nepal" first appears in an inscription from 1654 in Kathmandu. An Italian Jesuit named Ippolito Desideri, who visited Nepal in 1721, also used the term "Newars" for the local people. Scholars think "Nepal" might be a more formal version of "Newar", or that "Newar" developed later from "Nepal". Over time, the sounds changed, so people often say "Newā" instead of "Newār" and "Nepā" instead of "Nepāl" in daily conversations.

History

For over 2,000 years, the Newar people in Central Nepal kept a small part of old Indian culture alive. Both Hindu and Buddhist traditions were important there. The Malla dynasty supported the Maithili language, letting it be used just like the important language Sanskrit in their courts. Priests from Maithil came to live in Kathmandu, and many families from Tibet and Tirhut also moved there, shaping Newar traditions.

The Newar people share a common identity from living in the Kathmandu Valley. Before the valley was taken over by the Gorkha Kingdom in 1769, anyone living there was considered Newar. The valley’s early history mixes with stories, like one that says it was once a huge lake that a holy man named Manjusri helped drain. This explains why the soil there is so rich.

Economic History

The Newar people have always relied on trade, jobs, and farming. Different groups had special jobs, like making jewelry, weaving, farming, and creating art. Their traditions needed many different items, which also helped the economy grow. Each town or village made special things, and the land produced lots of food to sell.

For many years, Newar traders helped move goods between Tibet and India, and also sold things made locally in Tibet. Rice was a big product they sold. People and animals carried goods along old mountain paths. Since the 1700s, Newars have moved across Nepal and set up market towns in the hills. Today, they work in many modern jobs, like factories, businesses, and services.

Castes and Communities

Main article: Newa sub-communities

The Newar people are a unique group in Nepal, with their own language and culture. They have many different clans or groups, each with traditional jobs passed down through families. These groups started a long time ago and changed during different periods of history.

Some Newars were farmers, like the Jyapu group, while others had special jobs such as being priests, artists, or craftsmen. There were also groups that worked with metals, made pottery, or took care of temples. Even today, these traditional roles still influence the Newar community.

Culture

Language

Main article: Nepal Bhasa

Nepal Bhasa, also known as Newar, belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family and is spoken by Newars in Nepal's Katmandu Valley. Newars share a common language and culture. Nepal Bhasa is the term recognized by the government.

Nepal Bhasa existed as a spoken language during the Licchavi period and developed from the language spoken in Nepal during the Kirati period. Inscriptions in Nepal Bhasa emerged from the 12th century, with the palm-leaf manuscript from Uku Bahah being the first example. Nepal Bhasa developed from the 14th to the late 18th centuries as the court and state language. It was used in stone and copper inscriptions, sacred manuscripts, official documents, journals, title deeds, correspondence, and creative writing.

In 2011, there were approximately 846,000 native speakers of Nepal Bhasa. Many Newar communities within Nepal also speak their own dialects of Nepal Bhasa, such as the Dolakha Newar Language.

Literature

Main article: Nepal Bhasa literature

Newar Bhasa has an ancient literary tradition. Literature in Newar Bhasa began as translation and commentary in the 14th century AD. The earliest known document in Newar Bhasa is called "The Palmleaf from Uku Bahal" which dates from 1114 AD.

Classical Newar Bhasa literature includes prose, poetry, and drama. Most writings consist of prose including chronicles, popular stories and scientific manuals. Poetry consists of love songs, ballads, work songs, and religious poetry. Epic poetry describing historical events and tragedies is very popular. The dramas are based on stories from epics, and were mostly written during the 17th and 18th centuries. Nepal Bhasa literature flourished for five centuries until 1850. Since then, it faced a period of decline. The period 1909–1941 is known as the Nepal Bhasa renaissance period when writers created literary works. Modern Nepal Bhasa literature began in the 1940s with new genres like short stories, poems, essays, novels and plays.

Scripts

Main article: Nepal alphabets

Nepal Bhasa script developed from the Brahmi script and is used to write Nepal Bhasa. Ranjana Lipi is the most common script. Nepal script is also known as Nepal Lipi and Nepal Akhala.

Nepal Bhasa scripts appeared in the 10th century. For a thousand years, it was used on stone and copper plate inscriptions, coins (Nepalese mohar), palm-leaf documents and Buddhist manuscripts. Devanagari began to be used to write Nepal Bhasa in the beginning of the 20th century, and Nepal script has limited usage today.

Politics

Newa Autonomous State

Newa Autonomous State is a proposed federal state of Nepal which establishes the historical native homeland of Newa people as a federal state. The historical territories of Newars is called Nepal Mandala. The Newa Autonomous State includes historically Newa residing settlements and Newa dominant zones of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Newa towns of Dolakha, Newa settlements of Nuwakot, Newa settlements of Makwanpur, Newa settlements of Ramechhap, Newa settlements of Sindupalchok, Newa settlements of Kavre West.

Dance

Main article: Newa dance

See also: Kumha Pyakhan dance

The Newar dance consists of sacred masked dance, religious dance without masks known as Dyah Pyakhan, dance performed as part of a ritual and meditation practice known as Chachaa Pyakhan and folk dance. There are also masked dance dramas known as Daboo Pyakhan which enact religious stories with music.

Music

Main article: Newa music

Traditional Newa music consists of sacred music, devotional songs, seasonal songs, ballads and folk songs. One of the most well-known seasonal songs is Sitala Maju. Another seasonal song Silu is about a pilgrimage that went wrong. Ji Waya La Lachhi Maduni is a song about a newly married couple. The ballad Rajamati about young lovers is widely popular. In 1908, maestro Seturam Shrestha made the first recording of the song on gramophone disc in Kolkata.

Common percussion instruments consist of the dhimay, khin, naykhin and dhaa. Wind instruments include the bansuri (flute), payntah (long trumpet) and mwahali (short trumpet), chhusya, bhusya, taa (cymbals), and gongs are other popular instruments. String instruments are very rare. Newa people call their music Dhime Baja.

The musical style and instruments are still in use today. Musical bands accompany religious processions. Devotional songs may be sung daily in community houses. Dapa songs are sung during hymn singing seasons at Temple squares and sacred courtyards.

Gunla Bajan musical bands parade through the streets during Gunla, the 10th month of the Nepal Sambat calendar. Musical performances start with an overture which is a salutation to the gods.

Seasonal songs and ballads are associated with particular seasons and festivals. Music is also played during wedding processions, life-cycle ceremonies and funeral processions.

Popular traditional songs

• Ghātu (summer music, this seasonal melody is played during Pahan Charhe festival)
• Ji Wayā Lā Lachhi Maduni (the story of a merchant)
• Mohani (festive joy, this seasonal tune is played during Mohani festival)
• Rājamati (about young lovers)
• Silu (about a couple who get separated during a pilgrimage, this seasonal music is played during the monsoon)
• Sitālā Māju (lament for children expelled from the Kathmandu Valley)
• Swey Dhaka Swaigu Makhu (a song about love)
• Holi ya Mela (About the_holi_.)
• Wala Wala Pulu Kishi (Sung in Indra jatra)
• Yo Sing Tyo
• Yomari Maku
• Dhanga maru ni bhamcha (song to complain about the laziness of daughter-in-law by man's father.)
• Sirsaya Hegu

Religious music

• Gunlā Bājan
• Malshree dhun
• Dapha Bhajan
• Mye kasa

Art

Main article: Newa art

The Newars are creators of art and architecture in Nepal. Traditional Newar art is religious art. Newar devotional painting, sculpture and metal craftsmanship are world-renowned for their beauty. The earliest dated painting discovered so far is Vasudhara Mandala which was painted in 1365 AD (Nepal Sambat 485). The murals on the walls of two 15th-century monasteries in the former kingdom of Mustang in the Nepal Himalaya provide illustrations of Newar works outside the Kathmandu Valley. Stone sculpture, wood carving, repoussé art and metal statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities made by the lost-wax casting process are specimens of Newar artistry. The Peacock Window of Bhaktapur and Desay Madu Jhya of Kathmandu are known for their wood carving.

Building elements like the carved Newar window, roof struts on temples and the tympanum of temples and shrine houses exhibit traditional creativity. From as early as the seventh century, visitors have noted the skill of Newar artists and craftsmen who left their influence on the art of Tibet and China. Newars introduced the lost-wax technique into Bhutan and they were commissioned to paint murals on the walls of monasteries there. Sandpainting of mandala made during festivals and death rituals is another specialty of Newar art.

Besides exhibiting skill in traditional religious art, Newar artists have been at the forefront of introducing Western art styles in Nepal. Raj Man Singh Chitrakar (1797–1865) is credited with starting watercolor painting in the country. Bhaju Man Chitrakar (1817–1874), Tej Bahadur Chitrakar (1898–1971) and Chandra Man Singh Maskey were other pioneer artists who introduced modern style paintings incorporating concepts of lighting and perspective.

Traditional painting

• Paubhā
• Thanka

Architecture

Main article: Newa architecture

There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 2,500 temples and shrines in the Kathmandu Valley that illustrate the skill and aesthetic sense of Newar artisans. Fine brickwork and woodcarving are the marks of Newar architecture. Residential houses, monastic courtyards known as baha and bahi, rest houses, temples, stupas, priest houses and palaces are the various architectural structures found in the valley. Most of the chief monuments are located in the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, the old royal palace complexes built between the 12th and 18th centuries.

Newa architecture consists of the pagoda, stupa, shikhara, chaitya and other styles. The valley's trademark is the multiple-roofed pagoda which may have originated in this area and spread to India, China, Indochina and Japan. The most famous artisan who influenced stylistic developments in China and Tibet was Arniko, a Newar youth who traveled to the court of Kublai Khan in the 13th century AD. He is known for building the white stupa at the Miaoying Temple in Beijing.

Settlements

Durbar squares, temple squares, sacred courtyards, stupas, open-air shrines, dance platforms, sunken water fountains, public rest houses, bazaars, multistoried houses with elaborately carved windows and compact streets are the characteristics of traditional planning. Besides the historical cities of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Madhyapur Thimi, Chovar, Bungamati, Thankot and Kirtipur, small towns with a similar artistic heritage (like Panga in Kirtipur municipality) dot the Kathmandu Valley where almost half of the Newar population lives.

Outside the valley, historical Newar settlements include Nuwakot, Nala, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Panauti, Dolakha, Chitlang and Bhimphedi. The Newars of Kathmandu founded Pokhara in 1752 at the invitation of the rulers of Kaski. Over the last two centuries, Newars have fanned out of the Kathmandu Valley and established trade centers and settled in various parts of Nepal. Bandipur, Baglung, Silgadhi and Tansen in west Nepal and Chainpur and Bhojpur in east Nepal contain large Newar populations.

Outside Nepal, many Newars have settled in Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal, Assam, Manipur and Sikkim, India. In Sikkim, many Newars became helpers in establishing coinage system. Later they were made local leaders with judicial and administrative powers within their respective estates.

Newars have also settled in Bhutan. Colonies of expatriate Newar merchants and artisans existed in Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyantse in Tibet till the mid-1960s when the traditional trade came to an end after the Sino-Indian War. In recent times, Newars have moved to different parts of Asia, Europe and America.

Festivals

Newar religious culture is rich in ceremony and is marked by frequent festivals throughout the year. Many festivals are tied to Hindu and Buddhist holidays and the harvest cycle. Street celebrations include pageants, jatras or processions in which a car or portable shrine is paraded through the streets and sacred masked dances. Other festivals are marked by family feasts and worship. The celebrations are held according to the lunar calendar, so the dates are changeable.

Mohani is one of the greatest annual celebrations which is observed for several days with feasts, religious services, and processions. During Swanti, Newars celebrate New Year's Day of Nepal Sambat by doing Mha Puja, a ritual which is believed to purifies and strengthens one spiritually for the coming year. Another major festival is Sā Pāru when people who have lost a family member in the past year dress up as cows and saints, and parade through town, following a specific route. People give such participants money, food and other gifts as a donation. Usually, children are the participants of the parade.

In Kathmandu, the biggest street festival is Yenya (Indra Jatra) when three cars bearing the living goddess Kumari and two other child gods are pulled through the streets and masked dance performances are held. Another major celebration is Pahan Charhe when portable shrines bearing images of mother goddesses are paraded through Kathmandu. During the festival of Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, a temple car with an image of Karunamaya is drawn through central Kathmandu for three days. A similar procession is held in Lalitpur known as Bunga Dyah Jatra which continues for a month and climaxes with Bhoto Jatra, the display of the sacred vest. The biggest outdoor celebration in Bhaktapur is Biska Jatra (Bisket Jatra) which is marked by chariot processions and lasts for nine days. Sithi Nakha is another big festival when worship is offered and natural water sources are cleaned. In addition, all Newar towns and villages have their particular festival which is celebrated by holding a chariot or palanquin procession.

Paanch Chare is one of the many occasions or festivals celebrated by the Newa community, natives from Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. This is celebrated on the Chaturdasi (Pisach Chaturdashi) day according to new lunar calendar on the month of Chaitra.

And also the longest jatra of Nepal Rato Machindra Nath Janka is celebrated by Newars mostly on Patan. This Jatra is one month long and contains various celebrations.

Clothing

Main article: Traditional Newar clothing

Western wear is the norm as in urban areas in the rest of the country. Traditionally men wear tapuli (cap), long shirt (tapālan) and trousers (suruwā), also called Daura-Suruwal. Woman wear cheeparsi (sari) and gaa (long length shawl) while younger girls wear ankle-length gowns (bhāntānlan). Ritual dresses consist of pleated gowns, coats and a variety of headresses. Jyapu women have a distinctive sari called Hāku Patāsi which is a black sari with distinctive red border. Jyapu men also have a distinctive version of the tapālan suruwā. Similarly, a shawl (gā) is worn by men and women. Traditionally, Newar women wear a shoe made out of red cloth, Kapa lakaan. It is decorated with glitters and colorful beads (potya). One of the major parts of Newar dress ups is bracelets (chūra) and mala (necklaces).

Cuisine

Main article: Newa Cuisine

Meals can be classified into three main categories: the daily meal, the afternoon snack and festival food. The daily meal consists of boiled rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry, relish and Meat are served. The snack generally consists of beaten rice, roasted and curried soybeans, curried potato and roasted meat mixed with spices.

Food is also an important part of the ritual and religious life of the Newars, and the dishes served during festivals and feasts have symbolic significance. Different sets of ritual dishes are placed in a circle around the staple Bawji (rice flakes or Flattened) to represent and honour different sets of deities depending on the festival or life-cycle ceremony.

Kwāti (क्वाति soup of different beans), kachilā (कचिला spiced minced meat), chhoyalā (छोयला water buffalo meat marinated in spices and grilled over the flames of dried wheat stalks), pukālā (पुकाला fried meat), wo (वः lentil cake), paun kwā (पाउँक्वा sour soup), swan pukā (स्वँपुका stuffed lungs), syen (स्येँ fried liver), mye (म्ये boiled and fried tongue), sapu mhichā (सःपू म्हिचा leaf tripe stuffed with bone marrow), sanyā khunā (सन्या खुना jellied fish soup) and takhā (तःखा jellied meat) are some of the popular festival foods. Dessert consists of dhau (धौ yogurt), sisābusā (सिसाबुसा fruits) and mari (मरि sweets). Thwon (थ्वँ rice beer) and aylā (अयला local alcohol) are the common alcoholic liquors that Newars make at home.

Traditionally, at meals, festivals and gatherings, Newars sit on long mats in rows. Typically, the sitting arrangement is hierarchical with the eldest sitting at the top and the youngest at the end. Newar cuisine makes use of mustard oil and a host of spices such as cumin, sesame seeds, turmeric, garlic, ginger, mint, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, chilli and mustard seeds. Food is served in laptya (लप्त्य plates made of special leaves, held together by sticks). Similarly, any soups are served in botā (बोटा bowls made of leaves). Liquors are served in Salinchā (सलिंचाः bowls made of clay) and Kholchā (खोल्चाः small metal bowls).

Newar people are very innovative in terms of cuisine. They have a tradition to prepare various foods according to the festivals. Some of the popular cuisines that are prepared with the festivals are:

Life-cycle ceremonies

Elaborate ceremonies chronicle the life cycle of a Newar from birth till death. Newars consider life-cycle rituals as a preparation for death and the life after it. Hindus and Buddhists alike perform the "Sorha Sanskaar Karma" or the 16 sacred rites of passage, unavoidable in a Hindu person's life. The 16 rites have been shortened to 10 and called "10 Karma Sanskar" (Newar: दश कर्म संस्कार). These include important events of a person's life like "Jatakarma" (Newar: जातकर्म) (Childbirth), "Namakaran" (Newar: नामकरण) (Naming the child), "Annapraasan" (Newar: अन्नप्राशन) (First rice feeding ceremony), "Chudakarma" or "Kaeta Puja" (first hair shaving and loin cloth ceremony), "Vivaaha" (Newar: विवाह) (Wedding), among others.

• Chudakarma ceremony and (Bare Chuyegu/Acharyabhisheka or Bratabandha/Upanayana)

Once such important rite of passage ceremony among the male Newars is performing the loin-cloth and head-shaving ceremony called Chudākarma (Newar: चुडाकर्म) followed by the Bratabandha or Kaeta Puja (Newar: काएत पूजा) which is traditionally performed for boys aged five to thirteen according to the religious affiliation Newars identify with.

In this ceremony, Buddhist Newars – Gubhāju-Baré (Bajracharya-Shakya), Urāy, Jyapu and few artisan castes like Chitrakār – perform their Pravrajyā (Sanskrit: प्रवराज्या) ceremony by mimicking Gautama Buddha's ascetic and medicant lifestyle and the steps to attain monkhood and nirvana where the boy stays in a Buddhist monastery, Vihara, for three days, living the life of a monk and abandoning all material pleasures. On the fourth day, he disrobes and returns to his family and henceforth becomes a householder Buddhist for the rest of his life. The Buddhist priestly clan Gubhāju-Baré (Bajracharya and Shakya) go through an additional initiation ceremony called Bare Chuyegu (becoming a Baré) while Bajracharya boys are further required to go through Acharyabhisheka (Sanskrit: आचार्याभिषेक) which is a Tantric initiation rite that qualifies a Bajracharya to perform as a purohita.

Hindu Newars perform the male initiation ceremony called Kaeta Puja as a ritual observance of the brahmachārya – the first stage in the traditional four stages of life. During the ritual, the young boy renounces family and lineage for the celibate religious life. His head is fully shaved except a tuft in the top, he must don yellow/orange robes of the mendicant, he must beg rice from his relatives and prepare to wander out into the world. Having this symbolically fulfilled the ascetic ideal, he can be called back by his family to assume the life of a householder and his eventual duty as a husband and a father. Twice-born (Brahmin and Kshatriya) Newars – Rajopādhyāyas and Chatharīyas – additionally perform the Upanayana initiation where the boy receives his sacred thread (Sanskrit: यज्ञोपवीत) and the secret Vedic mantras – RV.3.62.10 (Gāyatrī mantra) for Brahmins and RV.1.35.2 (Shiva mantra) for Chatharīyas. The boy is then fully inducted into his caste status as a Dvija with the obligation to observe henceforth all commensal rules and other caste obligations(Newar: कर्म चलेको).

• Macha Janku

This is the rice feeding ceremony, "Annapraasan" (Newar: अन्नप्राशन). It is performed at the age of six or eight months for boys and at the age of five or seven months for girls.

• Ihi ceremony

Further information: Ihi

For a female child, Ihi (Ehee)(Newar: ईहि) short for Ihipaa (Eheepā)(Newar: ईहिपा) (Marriage) is performed between the ages of five and nine. It is a ceremony in which pre-adolescent girls are "married" to the bael fruit (wood apple), which is a symbol of the god Shiva. It is believed that if the girl's husband dies later in her life, she is not considered a widow because she is married to Shiva, and so already has a husband that is believed to be still alive.

• Bahra

Further information: [[:Bahra ceremony]]

Girls have yet another ceremonial ritual called Bahra Chuyegu(Newar: बराह चुयेगु) when a girl approaches puberty. This is done in her odd number year like 7,9 or 11 before menstruation. She is kept in a room for 12 days hidden and is ceremonially married to the sun god Surya.

• Jankwa

Jankwa or Janku is an old-age ceremony which is conducted when a person reaches the age of 77 years, seven months, seven days, seven hours, seven minutes, seven-quarter. Three further Janku ceremonies are performed at similar auspicious milestones at age 83, 88 and 99. The first Janwa is called "Bhimratharohan", the second "Chandraratharohan", the third "Devaratharohan", and the fourth "Divyaratharohan". After the second Jankwa, the person is accorded deified status.

• Vivaaha (Wedding)

The next ceremony common to both men and women is marriage. The Newar custom, similar to that of Hindus, is that the bride almost always leaves home at marriage and moves into her husband's home and adopts her husband's family name as her own. Cross-cousin and parallel-cousin marriage is forbidden. Marriage is usually arranged by parents who use a gobetween(lamee). Marriage by elopement is popular in some peripheral villages.

• The Sagan ceremony where auspicious food items are presented is an important part of life-cycle rituals.
• All Newars, except the Laakumi and Jogi caste, cremate their dead. The Jogis bury their dead. As part of the funeral, offerings are made to the spirit of the deceased, the crow and the dog. The crow and the dog represent ancestors and the god of death. Subsequently, offerings and rituals are conducted four, seven, eight, 13 and 45 days following death and monthly for a year and then annually.
• Buddhist Newars also make a mandala (sand painting) depicting the Buddha on the third day after death which is preserved for four days.

Newa Games

The games which had been played by prasanga people from their ancient time can be classified as Newa games.

Kana kana picha (Blindfold game), Piyah (a game played with stone by pushing stone within the marks drawn in the ground), Gatti ( another game played with stone by hand), pasa are some games played by Newar people since ancient time.^{[citation needed]}

The Kirantas settled in different places of Nepal, especially in the eastern Himalayas in the seventh century B.C. They were brave. They attacked Kathmandu during the reign of King Bhuwan Singh and defeated him. They founded the Kiranti rule in the Kathmandu Valley. Yalambar was the first Kiranti King. The seventh Kiranti King, Jitedasit and the fourteenth King, Sthunko were very famous. During the rule of Jitedasti, Gautam Buddha Visited Nepal. During the rule of Sthunko, Indian Emperor Ashok visited Kathmandu.

About 32 kings of Kirant dynasty continued their rule in the valley. During that period, Nepal made great progress. Trade and industry developed. Wool, wood and herbs were sent from Nepal to other countries. Nepali blandets were very famous in pataliputra (patina). Kautily, an Indian economist, has written this. The laws were very strict. There were justice courts in the country. The kirantas worshipped kiranteshwar Mahadev, serpents and trees. They made stupas and chaityas. They had their own culture. They made several settlements like matatirtha, Shankhmul, Thankot, Khopung, Kurpasi, Sanga, Tenkhu etc. these settlements still exist with a little change in their names.

Lichchhavi kings, After the downfall of the Kiranti rule, Som dynasty came into power. Only five kings of this dynasty ruled over Nepal. Bhaskerverma was the last king. After that, Lichchhavi rule began in Nepal. The Lichchhavis had come to Nepal from India.

Religion

See also: Newar Hinduism, Newar Buddhism, and Roman Catholic Diocese of Bettiah

The Newar people mainly follow either Hinduism or Buddhism. In 2001, about 84% were Hindu and 15% were Buddhist, with a small Christian group as well. By 2011, the numbers had shifted slightly, with around 87% Hindu and 11% Buddhist.

In the Kathmandu Valley, the city of Patan has many Buddhist sites, while Bhaktapur is mostly Hindu. Kathmandu has both. Both groups share many festivals and respect each other's traditions, though they have their own priests for specific rituals. Important places for worship include Swayambhunath for Buddhists and Pashupatinath for Hindus.

The Newars have practiced both forms of Buddhism and Hinduism for a very long time. They share many traditions, especially the worship of local gods like Ganesh. Some Newars became Christians many years ago when missionaries arrived, and some moved to India later.

Notable Newar people

The Newar people have produced many important figures in Nepal’s history. Some of these individuals include Sankhadhar Sakhwa, a philanthropist from 879 AD who helped create the Nepal Sambat calendar, and Jogbir Sthapit, the architect who designed the Narayanhiti Royal Palace in the 1800s.

Other notable Newars include writers, poets, freedom fighters, and leaders in many fields. Many have made big contributions to Nepal’s culture, politics, and social life over the centuries.