Newars
Kathmandu Durbar Square The temple of Pashupatinath Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 602 KB) Summary basantapurpalace copyright santosh kc Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 577 KB) Summary copyright santoshkc Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Pashupatinath Temple, Eastview Pashupatinath Temple Dye seller outside Pashupatinath Pashupatinath is a Hindu temple located on the shore of the Bagmati river on the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. ...
Total population	more than 1,245,232
Regions with significant populations	Nepal, India, Bhutan, Tibet
Language	Nepal Bhasa
Religion	Buddhism, Hinduism
Related ethnic groups	probably Indo-Aryans eg-Thakuri, Maithil and Sino-Tibetan eg-Kirants, Tibetans, Magar, Gurung in and around Nepal

The Newar or Newah are the indigenous group of Nepal's Kathmandu valley. Newars are a linguistic community with multiple ethnicity/race (Mongoloid, Indo-Aryan, and Dravidian) and faith, bound together by a common language¹. The term Newar applies roughly to the people who inhabited Kathmandu valley and its peripheries before the unification of Nepal and speaking Nepal Bhasa or the languages progenitor of Nepal Bhasa. According to Nepal’s 2001 census, the 1,245,232 Newar in the country are the nation's sixth largest ethnic group, representing 5.48% of the population. The main Newar language, Nepal Bhasa, is of Tibeto-Burman origin and 825,458 Nepalis speak Newari languages as their mother language. This article is becoming very long. ... Newari redirects here. ... A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found in Sarnath, near Varanasi. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian Subcontinent. ... Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatama Gandhi and a Rajasthani tribesman The Indo-Aryans are the ethno-linguistic descendents of the Indic branch of the Indo-Iranians. ... Sino-Tibetan languages form a language family of about 250 languages of East Asia, in number of speakers worldwide second only to Indo-European. ... The indigenous peoples of Asia are the various groups identified as indigenous peoples within the region, as per the modern definition of that term. ... A typical Nepalese house in the valley, made from cow dung and clay The Kathmandu valley, located in the Kingdom of Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus as well as the... Typical Mongoloid Skull A portrait of the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan; the Mongolians, for which the term Mongoloid was named after, are an example of the prototype Northern Mongoloid. ... Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatama Gandhi and a Rajasthani tribesman The Indo-Aryans are the ethno-linguistic descendents of the Indic branch of the Indo-Iranians. ... The terms Dravidians and Dravidian people or Dravidian race are sometimes given to the people of southern, central and northern India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka who speak Dravidian languages. ... Newari redirects here. ... An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. ... Nepal Bhasa (also known as Newari) is a language spoken by Newar community in the Kathmandu Valley, as well as in other towns inhabitated by newar community Nepal. ... The Tibeto-Burman linguistic subfamily of the proposed Sino-Tibetan language family is spoken in various central and south Asian countries: Myanmar (Burmese language), Tibet (Tibetan language), northern Thailand (Mong language), Nepal, Bhutan, India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and the Ladakh region of...

History

The different divisions of Newars have different historical developments before their arrival to Kathmandu valley. However, the common identity of Newar is formed after their arrival to the valley. Till the unification of Nepal, except for may be the Muslims under Gayasuddin who attacked and destroyed many parts of the valley, all people who had inhabited the valley at any point of time were either Newar or were progenitors of Newar. So, the history of Newar correlates to a great magnitude to the history of Kathmandu valley till the Unification of Nepal.

The earliest known history of Newar and Kathmandu valley were recorded in the form of mythical scriptures. One of such texts which even accounts the creation of the valley is Swayambhu Purana. According to Swayambhu Purana, the Kathmandu valley was a giant lake called Nāgdaha until the Bodhisattva Manjushree, with the aid of a holy sword called Chandrahrāsa, cut open a part of southern hill of Kachchhapāla² and then cut open Gokarna daha³ and drained the giant lake, allowing humans to settle the valley land. This apocryphal legend is supported by some geological evidence of an ancient lakebed and it provides an explanation for the high fertility of Kathmandu valley soil. According to Swayambhu Purana, Manjushree then established a city called Manjupattan (Sanskrit: land established by Manjushree), now called Manjipā, where he coronated Dharmākara as the king of the land⁴. A shrine dedicated to Manjushree is still present in Majipā. Swayambhu Purana (Devnagari: स्वयम्भू पूराण) is a Buddhist scripture about the origin and development of Kathmandu valley. ... Statue of Manjusri (Monju) at Senkoji in Onomichi, Japan Mañjuśrī (文殊 Ch. ...

The Lichchhavi dynasty ruled for at least 600 years, followed by the Malla dynasty in 12th century AD. Nepal Bhasa script is estimated to be at least 1200 years old. Nepal Bhasa inscriptions in an ancient manuscript, Nidan, from 901 AD and on a stone tablet from 1173 AD in the courtyard of Bajrayogini Temple at Sankhu, attest to the deep roots of Newar culture in the Kathmandu valley. Malla can refer to at least four things: Malla is a place in Afghanistan Malla is a municipality of Barcelona, Spain Malla was an ancient dynasty in India, one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas Malla was a dynasty in Nepal Category: ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Nepal Bhasa (also known as Newari) is a language spoken by Newar community in the Kathmandu Valley, as well as in other towns inhabitated by newar community Nepal. ... Events Mesoamerican ballgame court dedicated at Uxmal Kingdom of Taebong established in Korean peninsula Fuzhou city was expanded with construction of a new city wall (Luo City). Births Deaths February 18 - Thabit ibn Qurra, Arab astronomer and mathematician Categories: 901 ... Events Canonization of Saint Thomas à Becket, buried at Canterbury August 9th - Construction starts on the Leaning tower of Pisa Castle at Abergavenny was seized by the Welsh. ... Bajrayogini Temple is a famous Tantrik temple of Kathmandu valley. ... Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमाडौं, Nepal Bhasa:यें) is the capital city of Nepal and it is also the largest city in Nepal. ...

Newar reign over the valley and their sovereignty and influence over neighboring territories ended approximately 250 years ago with the conquest of the Kathmandu valley in 1769 by the Gorkhali Shah dynasty founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah. Even after the consolidation of the nation-state, the Newar remained a pivotal force in Nepali society as merchants and government administrators, rivalling Brahmin influence in Shah courts. Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमाडौं, Nepal Bhasa:यें) is the capital city of Nepal and it is also the largest city in Nepal. ... 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... King Prithvi Narayan Shah, portrait at the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, Kathmandu, Nepal. ...

The Newar maintain a highly literate culture and their members are prominent in every sphere, from agriculture, business, education and government administration to medicine, law, religion, architecture, fine art, and literature. Newar architects are responsible for inventing Asia’s hallmark pagoda architecture. Newar devotional thangka painting, sculpture and metal craftsmanship are world-renowned for their exquisite beauty. The fine temples and palaces of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur are largely the product of Newar architects, artisans, and sculptors. A pagoda at Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in China, Japan, Korea, and other parts of Asia. ... Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमाडौं, Nepal Bhasa:यें) is the capital city of Nepal and it is also the largest city in Nepal. ... Patan is : a city in Nepal (Patan, Nepal) a city and district in Gujarat (Patan, Gujarat) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Peacock Window View of a typical square A street of Bhaktapur Bhaktapur (27. ...

Religion

Newar practice both Buddhism and Hinduism. It is believed that the Newar were originally Buddhists but the long historical process of Sanskritization (adoption of Hindu rituals), led to the development of the Newar’s unique syncretic tradition. A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found in Sarnath, near Varanasi. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian Subcontinent. ...

Caste

Main article: Newar Caste This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The Newar are divided into hierarchical clan groups by occupational caste, readily identified by surnames. In the past, the upper caste people used to look down upon the lower caste. Such a division of people created a rift in the society which has rendered the mention of caste as a taboo. A clan is a group of people united by kinship and descent, which is defined by perceived descent from a common ancestor. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Music

Main article: Newar Music Timeline and Samples Genres Newari Music - Nepali rock - Nepalese Hip hop Awards Image Music Awards - HitsFM Music Awards Charts Festivals Goon lā Media Radio Nepal , Hits FM, Image FM National anthem Rastriya Gaan Newari Music is a traditional music developed in Nepal by the Newars. ...

The Newar Music consists mainly of percussion instruments. Wind instruments such as flutes and similar instruments are also used. String instruments are very rare. There are songs pertaining to particular seasons and festivals. Paahan chare music is most probably the fastest played music whereas the Dapa the slowest. The dhimay music are the loudest ones. There are certain musical instruments such as Dhimay and Bhusya which are played as instrumental only and are not accompanied with songs. Timeline and Samples Genres Newari Music - Nepali rock - Nepalese Hip hop Awards Image Music Awards - HitsFM Music Awards Charts Festivals Goon lā Media Radio Nepal , Hits FM, Image FM National anthem Rastriya Gaan Newari Music is a traditional music developed in Nepal by the Newars. ... Percussion may refer to: A family of musical instruments – see percussion instrument; A method of clinical examination – see percussion (medicine). ... A wind instrument consists of a tube containing a column of air which is set into vibration by the player blowing into (or over) a mouthpiece set into the end of the tube. ... A string instrument (also stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ... An instrumental is, in contrast to a song, a musical composition or piece without lyrics or any other sort of vocal music; all of the music is produced by musical instruments. ...

Art

Main article: Newar Art

Traditional Newar Art is used in rituals and festivals. The prevalent art forms are Paubas ( water based gouche paintings on cloth), sculpture ( lost wax process bronzes, terracotta, wood and stone), masks ( metal and paper mache), woodcuts and murals. The Chitrakars and Vajracharyas are the traditional painters and the Shakyas are the sculptors. Along with being traditional painters, The Chitrakars are also mask makers (paper mache) woodcut printers and mural painters. Paubas are traditional paintings on cloth created basically by the Chitrakar caste and also by few members of Vajracharya caste of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. ...

Dance

Main Article: Newar Dance Newari Dance consists of the whole array of dances that are traditionally performed by Newars. ...

The Newar Dance can be broadly classified as masked dance and dance without the use of masks. The most representative of Newari dance is Lakhey dance. Almost all the settlements of Newar have Lakhey dance at least once a year. Almost all of these Lakhey dances are held in the Goonlaa month. So, they are called Goonlaa Lakhey. However, the most famous Lakhey dance is the Majipa Lakhey dance. It is performed by the Ranjitkars of Kathmandu. The dance takes place for a week during the week containing the full moon of Yenlaa month. The Lakhey are considered as the saviors of children. Newari Dance consists of the whole array of dances that are traditionally performed by Newars. ... Lakhey (Nepal Bhasa:लाखे, lā-khé) is a famous character in Newar culture. ...

Cuisine

Main article: Newar Cuisine Dhau Newari Cuisine is a type of cuisine developed over centuries by the Newars of Nepal. ...

The Newar Cuisine is a unique type of cuisine. It consists of non-vegetarian and vegetarian items as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Mustard oil and a host of spices, such as cumin, sesame seeds, turmeric, garlic, ginger, methi, bayleaves, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, chili, mustard seeds, vinegar etc are used in cooking. Dhau Newari Cuisine is a type of cuisine developed over centuries by the Newars of Nepal. ...

Architecture

Main article: Newar Architecture Stupa at Swayambhunath Newari architecture is the architecture developed by Newars. ...

The Newar Architecture consists of Pagoda style, Stupa style, Shikhara style, Chaitya style etc. Stupa at Swayambhunath Newari architecture is the architecture developed by Newars. ... A pagoda at Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in China, Japan, Korea, and other parts of Asia. ... Stupa at Samye Ling Monastery, Scotland A stupa (from the Sanskrit) is a type of Buddhist structure found across the Indian subcontinent, Asia and increasingly in the Western World. ... The Sikhara of the Raghunath Temple at Jammu, India is built in the Nagar style of temple architecture. ... A chaitya-griha (stupa hall) is a meeting or assembly often used for purposes similar to a stupa. ...

Festivals and rituals

Janmaadya chariot

Newar culture is very rich in pageantry and ritual throughout the year. Many festivals are tied to Hindu holidays, Buddha’s birth and the harvest cycle. For instance, an important Newar high holiday is Gunhu Punhi. During this nine-day festival, Newar men and women drink a bowl of sprouted mixed cereals, receive doro (a ritual protection cord tied on the wrist by a Brahman priest) and then offer food to frogs in the farmers’ fields. On the second day, Sā Pāru (Gai Jatra), people who have lost a family member in the past year dress up as cows and parade through town, in the belief that cows help souls enter heaven. The last day of Gunhu Punhi is Krishnastami, birthday of lord Krishna, an incarnation of lord Vishnu. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1200x1600, 287 KB) Image of chariot of Janmaadya copyright Eukesh (I took this photo myself) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1200x1600, 287 KB) Image of chariot of Janmaadya copyright Eukesh (I took this photo myself) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation... A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value, which is prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. ... The 2006 Sinulog festival in the Philippines Renaissance festival A festival or fest is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some theme, sometimes on some unique aspect of the community. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The word holiday has related but different meanings in English-speaking countries. ... Media:Example. ... Hay bales after harvest in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany In agriculture, harvesting is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. ... Sā Pāru (Devnagari : सा पारू, English: Cow festival, Nepali: Gai Jatra) is a festival celebrated chiefly in Nepal by the Newars. ... Sā Pāru (Devnagari : सा पारू, English: Cow festival, Nepali: Gai Jatra) is a festival celebrated chiefly in Nepal by the Newars. ... == krishna full name krishnadas and he is a hardware eng working in a mnc company his native is in kerala palghat alathur kunissery. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari , with honorific Shri Vishnu; , ), (also frequently referred to as Narayana) is the most popularly worshipped form of God in Hinduism [1]. Within the Vaishnava tradition he is viewed as the Ultimate Reality or Supreme God (similarly to Shiva within Shaivism). ...

Yanyā Punhi (Indra Jatra) is a holiday related to Hindu god king of heaven, Indra. The festival begins with the carnival-like erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Aakash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting beer and liquor. Households throughout Kathmandu display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab only at this time of year. Finally, the Kumari, or virgin goddess(living goddess), leaves the seclusion of her temple in a palanquin and leads a procession through the streets of Kathmandu to thank Indra the rain god. Yanyā Punhi (Devnagari: ञेया पुन्ही, Sanskrit: Indra Jatra) is a festival celebrated in Kathmandu, Nepal. ... Yanyā Punhi (Devnagari: ञेया पुन्ही, Sanskrit: Indra Jatra) is a festival celebrated in Kathmandu, Nepal. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Indra is also the name of a song by the Thievery Corporation. ... Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमाडौं, Nepal Bhasa:यें) is the capital city of Nepal and it is also the largest city in Nepal. ... The Royal Kumari Kumari, or Kumari Devi is a living Hindu goddess in Nepal. ...

Many rituals are related to the stages of life stages from birth, first rice-feeding, childhood, puberty, marriage, seniority and death. The complexity and all-encompassing nature of these rituals cannot be exaggerated. For instance, Newar girls undergo a Bahra ceremony when they reach menarche. Because menstruation is considered ritually impure, girls undergo ritual confinement for 12 days. Girls are separated from all males and from sunlight for 12 days while they are doted upon by female relatives. On 12th day the girl must pay homage to the sun. Menarche is the first menstrual period, or first menstrual bleeding. ... Menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiological changes in the females of some animal species that is associated with reproductive fertility. ... Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. ...

Should a Newar man or women live long enough, there are five rituals, known as "janku,"—which can be confusing, as the first rice feeding ceremony is referred to as "janku" as well—performed between the age of 77 and 106. These at the age 77 years, 7 months, 7 days; 83 years, 4 months, 4 days (after one has seen 1000 full moons in one's life); 88 years, 8 months, 8 days; 99 years, 9 months, 9 days; and, finally, at 105 years, 8 months, 8 days. After these rituals are performed, the person will be regarded as a god. Husband and wife will perform their rituals together, as the events occur for the husband.

Afterwards, the full complement of life cycle rituals will have been completed, until the death ceremony.

Citations

1. Palistha- Prof.Maniklal Shrestha

2. Swayambhu Purana

3. Kantipur- Basu Pasa

4. A brief Swoyambhu Puran- Rajendraman Bajracharya

References

• ज्वजलपा डट कम A Window to Newar Culture
• Newah Organization of America
• Art of Newar Buddhism
• Journal of Newar Studies
• Newa Bigyan Journal of Newar Studies
• Newa Post First Nepal Bhasha Web Magazine
• Rastriya Janajati Bikas Samiti
• Nepal Ethnographic Museum
• Bista, Dor Bahadur. (2004). People of Nepal. Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
• Levy, Robert I. (1990). Mesocosm: Hinduism and the Organization of a Traditional Newar City in Nepal. Berkeley: University of California Press.
• Pasa Puchah Guthi UK, Newah Site
• Wikipedia of Newars (नेवा विकि)

See also

• Portal:Newar