100-596: Newar ( / n ɪ ˈ w ɑːr / ; Newar : नेवार , endonym : Newa ; Newar : नेवा , Pracalit script : 𑐣𑐾𑐰𑐵𑑅 ), or Nepami , are primarily inhabitants in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and the Indian territories of Sikkim state and Gorkhaland including its surrounding areas and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation. The Newar are a distinct linguistic and cultural group, primarily Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman ethnicities, who share
200-487: A Capuchin missionary who visited Nepal in the 1740s referred to the language as Nepalese. The term "Newari" as a name for the language was coined by Brian Hodgson in 1847 and since then used by most western scholars. The term "Newari" is considered by many Newars to be inappropriate as it is the Sanskritisation of "Newar". "Newar" is generally believed to be related to the word "Nepal", possibly derived by
300-556: 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 . 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
400-594: A common language, Nepal Bhasa , and predominantly practice Newar Hinduism and Newar Buddhism . Newars have developed a division of labour and a sophisticated urban civilisation not seen elsewhere in the Himalayan foothills. Newars have continued their age-old traditions and practices and pride themselves as the true custodians of the religion, culture and civilisation of Nepal. Newars are known for their contributions to culture, art and literature , trade , agriculture and cuisine . Today, they consistently rank as
500-399: A deity is placed in a chariot or portable shrine and taken around the city. Devotional songs are known as bhajan may be sung daily in community houses. Hymn societies like Gyanmala Bhajan Khala hold regular recitals. 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
600-465: 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. The two godchildren are Ganesh and Bhairav. Another major celebration is Pahan Charhe when portable shrines bearing images of mother goddesses are paraded through Kathmandu. During
700-575: A federal state. The historical territories of Newars is called Nepal Mandala . The Newa Autonomous State mandates to reconstruct the district division and create an autonomous Newa province. It 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. The Newar dance consists of sacred masked dance, religious dance without
800-493: A flourishing economic system. Elaborate cultural traditions which required the use of varied objects and services also fueled the economy. Towns and villages in the Kathmandu Valley specialized in producing particular products, and rich agriculture produced a surplus for export. For centuries, Newar merchants have handled trade between Tibet and India as well as exporting locally manufactured products to Tibet. Rice
900-506: A government institution established in 1913 (B.S. 1970) for advancement of Gorkha Bhasa, renamed itself as Nepali Bhasa Prakashini Samiti (Nepali Language Publishing Committee) in 1933 (B.S. 1990), which is currently known as Sajha Prakashan . On 7 September 1995, the cabinet of ministers decided to use "Nepala Bhasa" instead of "Newari". On 13 November 1998, the Minister of Information and Communication issued another directive to use
1000-455: A high and frequently twice-born caste. Generally such changes are followed by a claim to a higher position in the caste hierarchy than that traditionally conceded to the claimant class by the local community..." In a broader sense, Sanskritisation is the process whereby local or regional forms of culture and religion – local deities, rituals, literary genres – become identified with the great tradition of Sanskrit literature and culture: namely
1100-623: A local language. Newar is taught in schools of Sikkim. The exact placement of Newar within the Tibeto-Burman language family has been a source of controversies and confusion. Robert Shafer classified Newar as part of his Bodic division of Sino-Tibetan. George Van Driem classified Newar within the Mahakiranti grouping but he later retracted his hypothesis in 2003. Moreover, he proposed a new grouping called "Maha-Newari" which possibly includes Baram–Thangmi . T. R. Kansakar attributes
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#17327655724741200-567: A luckless Tibet trader, are sung as seasonal songs. The dramas are based on stories from the epics, and almost all of them were written during the 17th and 18th centuries. Nepal Bhasa literature flourished for five centuries until 1850. Since then, it suffered a period of decline due to political oppression. The period 1909–1941 is known as the Nepal Bhasa renaissance period when writers defied official censure and braved imprisonment to create literary works. Modern Nepal Bhasa literature began in
1300-524: A neat classification. A classification (based on Glover's ) indicating a percentage of shared vocabulary within the labeled branch and an approximate time of split: Example: Karen etc Example: Sunwar Tamang , Manang , Gurung , Thakali , Kaike , Tibetan , Sherpa Examples: Limbu Chepang Baram–Thangmi Pahri or Pahari (unrelated to other "Pahari" languages of the region) Dolkha Newari Modern Nepal Bhasa ɫ "%" indicates lexical similarity/common vocabulary between Newar and
1400-411: A similar heuristic was previously described by Ambedkar (1916, 1917). Jaffrelot goes on to say, "While the term was coined by Srinivas, the process itself had been described by colonial administrators such as E. T. Atkinson in his Himalayan Gazetteer and Alfred Lyall , in whose works Ambedkar might well have encountered it." Virginius Xaxa notes that sometimes the anthropologists also use
1500-416: A thousand years, it was used on stone and copper plate inscriptions, coins ( Nepalese mohar ), palm-leaf documents and Hindu 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. Newa Autonomous State is a proposed federal state of Nepal which establishes the historical native homeland of Newa people as
1600-516: A valley to the west of Kathmandu, contains the phrase "greetings to the Nepals" indicating that the term "Nepal" was used to refer to both the country and the people. The term "Newar" or "Newa:" referring to "inhabitant of Nepal" appeared for the first time in an inscription dated 1654 in Kathmandu. Italian Jesuit priest Ippolito Desideri (1684–1733) who traveled to Nepal in 1721 has written that
1700-422: 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
1800-740: Is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people , the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala , which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepal . The language is known officialy in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, a name that has been historically used for the language. The term " Newari " is also used to refer to the language, although the Indic -i suffix is considered inappropriate by some Newar speakers. The language served as
1900-461: Is a historical process in which local Indian religious traditions become syncretised , or aligned to and absorbed within the Brahmanical religion , resulting in the pan-Indian religion of Hinduism . Srinivas defined Sanskritisation as a process by which a low or middle Hindu caste, or tribal or other group, changes its customs, ritual, ideology, and way of life in the direction of
2000-793: Is an additional official language in Sikkim for the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state. The official weekly publication Sikkim Herald has a Newar Edition. The Information & Public Relations Department also broadcasts news bulletin in Newar. Nepal Bhasa is included as elective mother tongue subject in schools by Curriculum Development Committee. Tribhuvan University offers Bachelors, Masters, Mphil and PhD degree in Nepal Bhasa. Expatriates can study Nepal Bhasa at Bishwa Bhasa Campus in Kathmandu. Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Kirtipur Municipality are teaching Nepal Bhasa as
2100-563: 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
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#17327655724742200-482: Is basically religious art. Newar devotional paubha painting, sculpture and metal craftsmanship are world-renowned for their exquisite beauty. The earliest dated paubha 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
2300-689: Is believed to have developed from the language spoken in Nepal during the Kirati period. Inscriptions in Nepal Bhasa emerged from the 12th century, 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 universally 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
2400-411: Is bracelets (chūra) and mala (necklaces). 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
2500-405: Is considered to be the first woman to publish literature in Nepal as her poems are the earliest dated literature in Nepal authored by a woman. An example of the language used during this period is provided by the following lines from a poem written by Briddhi Lakshmi . dukha hāṅā hāṅā parabata jina lhvaneṅa maphuta, madata vipatiyā udhāra I can no longer bear the mountain of grief; there
2600-602: Is during this period that the earliest dated document written entirely in Newar was written, a palm-leaf manuscript preserved in Uku Bāhā, a Buddhist monastery in Lalitpur , which dates from 1114. Following is a line from the document which mostly deals with business transaction. bivu mikhā tivu maduguna chu sāta duguna valhe replace for what is lost, with a remaining object or gift rightly sold out, give some clothes. The first inscription written entirely in Newar set up by
2700-663: Is no salvation for the grieved Newar began to be sidelined after the Gorkha conquest of Nepal and the ouster of the Malla dynasty by the Shah dynasty in the late 18th century. Since then, its history has been one of constant suppression and struggle against official disapproval. Following the advent of the Shahs, the Gorkhali language became the court language, and Newar was replaced as
2800-542: Is of Hindu Jat in rural North India who did Sanskritisation with the help of Arya Samaj as a part of a social upliftment effort. An unsuccessful example is the Vishwakarma caste's claim to Brahmin status, which is not generally accepted outside that community, despite their adoption of some Brahmin caste traits, such as wearing the sacred thread , and the Brahminisation of their rituals. Srinivas juxtaposed
2900-526: Is one of the oldest in Nepal, dating back to at least 600 years ago. From the start of the Rana dynasty in the 1840s until democratisation , Newar suffered from official suppression. From 1952 to 1991, the percentage of Newar speakers in the Kathmandu Valley dropped from 75% to 44% and today Newar culture and language are under threat. The language has been listed as " Definitely endangered " by UNESCO . On 6 May 2024, Newar, along with Tamang and Nepali
3000-524: Is represented by all the three major forms—prose, poetry, and drama. Most of the writings consist of prose including chronicles, popular stories and scientific manuals. Poetry consists of love songs, ballads, work songs, and religious poetry. The earliest poems date from the 1570s. Epic poetry describing historical events and tragedies are very popular. The ballads Sitala Maju , about the expulsion of children from Kathmandu, Silu , about an ill-fated pilgrimage to Gosaikunda , and Ji Waya La Lachhi Maduni , about
3100-409: 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
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3200-484: 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 language Nepal Historical : Gorkha Kingdom Newar ( English: / n ə ˈ w ɑː r / ; 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐨𑐵𑐲𑐵 , nepāla bhāṣā )
3300-704: Is still present in Majipā. No historical documents have been found after this era until the advent of the Gopal era. A genealogy of kings is recorded in a chronicle called Gopalarajavamsavali . According to this manuscript, the Gopal kings were followed by the Mahispals and the Kirats before the Licchavis entered from the south. Some claim Buddha visited Nepal during the reign of Kirat King Jitedasti. The Newars reign over
3400-729: The middle regions of the hierarchy . A caste was able, in a generation or two, to rise to a higher position in the hierarchy by adopting vegetarianism and teetotalism, and by Sanskritising its ritual and pantheon. In short, it took over, as far as possible, the customs, rites, and beliefs of the Brahmins, and adoption of the Brahminic way of life by a low caste seems to have been frequent, though theoretically forbidden. This process has been called ‘Sanskritisation’ in this book, in preference to ‘Brahminisation’, as certain Vedic rites are confined to
3500-563: The Bodhisattva Manjusri , with the aid of a holy sword, cut a gap in the surrounding hills and let the water out. This legend is supported by geological evidence of an ancient lakebed, and it provides an explanation for the high fertility of the Kathmandu Valley soil. According to the "Swayambhu inscription", Manjusri then established a city called Manjupattan (Sanskrit "Land Established by Manjusri"), now called Manjipā, and made Dharmākara its king. A shrine dedicated to Manjusri
3600-479: The Brahmanical tradition absorbed local popular traditions of ritual and ideology. According to Srinivas, Sanskritisation is not just the adoption of new customs and habits, but also includes exposure to new ideas and values appearing in Sanskrit literature. He says the words Karma , dharma , papa , maya , samsara , and moksha are the most common Sanskrit theological ideas which become common in
3700-650: The Dolakha Newar Language . Newar Bhasa is one of the five languages in the Sino-Tibetan family with an ancient literary tradition. Literature in Newar Bhasa began as translation and commentary in prose in the 14th century AD. The earliest known document in Newar Bhasa is called "The Palmleaf from Uku Bahal" which dates from 1114 AD during the Thakuri period. Classical Newar Bhasa literature
3800-624: The Licchavi period (approximately 400–750) contains frequent use of Sino-Tibetan words especially for proper nouns. Almost 80 percent of the names of places, taxes and merchandise used in the inscriptions are Tibeto-Burman in origin. It suggests that Newar existed as a vernacular language since at least the Lichhavi Dynasty . According to the Gopal Raj Vamshavali , a 14th century Newar language history book, before
3900-476: The Licchavis of Vaishali conquered Nepal , it was ruled by the Kirata and the language they spoke, which is referred by historians such as Shrestha as Kiranti, is believed to be the old form of the Newar language. For instance, in an inscription from 594 located in present day Bhaktapur , the area is referred as khopṛiṅa which closely resmbles the classical and modern Newar name for the city , khopa. It
4000-491: The Nepal Sambat calendar which is a holy month for Newar Buddhists. 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. The Newars are the creators of most examples of art and architecture in Nepal. Traditional Newar art
4100-510: The Pracalit script and another stone inscription set up by Pratap Malla in 1652 uses the term nevārabhāṣā ("newar language") to refer to the language. In the 1920s, the language known as Khas Kura, Gorkhali or Parbatiya was renamed to Nepali . Conversely, the term Gorkhali in the former national anthem entitled "Shreeman Gambhir" was changed to Nepali in 1951. Gorkha Bhasa Prakashini Samiti (Gorkha Language Publishing Committee),
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4200-538: The Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family and is predominantly spoken by Newars in Nepal's Katmandu Valley . Newars are bound together by a common language and culture. Their common language is Nepal Bhasa or the linguistic progenitor of that language. Nepal Bhasa is the term recognised by the government. Nepal Bhasa already existed as a spoken language during the Licchavi period and
4300-439: The 14th century, Newar was given the status of national language by Jayasthiti Malla . Since then, most of royal decrees, official proclamations and public notices set up by the monarchs appeared in Newar. Jayasthiti Malla himself commissioned many works in Newar like the Gopal Raj Vamshavali , a manuscript about the history of Nepal dating to 1389. From the 14th century onwards, an overwhelming number of stone inscriptions in
4400-454: The 1940s with the emergence of new genres like short stories, poems, essays, novels and plays. Nepal Bhasa script is a group of scripts that developed from the Brahmi script and are used primarily to write Nepal Bhasa . Among the different scripts, Ranjana Lipi is the most common. Nepal script is also known as Nepal Lipi and Nepal Akhala. Nepal Bhasa scripts appeared in the 10th century. For
4500-460: The Brahmins and the two other twice-born castes. The book challenged the then prevalent idea that caste was a rigid and unchanging institution. The concept of Sanskritisation addressed the actual complexity and fluidity of caste relations. It brought into academic focus the dynamics of the renegotiation of status by various castes and communities in India. According to Jaffrelot 2005 , p. 33,
4600-867: The Kathmandu Valley , where they are a ubiquitous element at heritage sites, are in Newar. The period from 1428 to 1769 is considered a Golden Age for Newar Literature . Many monarchs of the Malla dynasty themselves started composing hymns and dramas in Newar. Noted royal writers include Mahindra Malla , Siddhi Narsingh Malla , and Ranajit Malla . Still, there are numerous works of literature from this period with anonymous authors. Some non royal authors include Keshav Udās, Brisabhānanda and Biladātāsingha. Some notable women who wrote literature in Newar during this period include, Jagatakeshari from Banepa , Briddhi Lakshmi (queen consort of Bhaktapur ), Riddhi Lakshmi (mother of Bhupalendra Malla ), Jaya Lakshmi (queen consort of Yoga Narendra Malla ). Among them, Riddhi Lakshmi
4700-399: The Kathmandu Valley leading to the indigenous Newars becoming a minority. During the period 1952 to 1991, the percentage of the valley population speaking Newar dropped from 74.95% to 43.93%. The Nepal Bhasa movement arose as an effort to save the language. Newars have been fighting to save their language in the face of opposition from the government and hostile neighbours from the time of
4800-506: 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 ,
4900-460: 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
5000-553: The Licchavis , Kosala , and Mallas (N) from respective Indian Mahajanapada (i.e. Licchavis of Vajji , Kosala , and Malla (I) ) that arrived at different periods eventually merged with the local native population by marriage as well as adopting their language and customs. These tribes however retained their Vedic culture and brought with them their Sanskritic languages, social structure , Hindu religion and culture, which were assimilated with local cultures and gave rise to
5100-575: The Linguist Glover, Newar and Chepang language must have diverged around 2200 BC. It is estimated that Newar shares 28% of its vocabulary with Chepang. At the same time, a very large and significant proportion of Newari vocabulary is Indo-European in origin, by one estimate more than 50%, indicating an influence of at least 1,600 years from Indo-European languages, first from Sanskrit, Maithili, Persian, and Urdu and today from Hindi, Nepali and English. The Sanskrit language stone inscriptions of
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#17327655724745200-557: The Newars are regarded as an example of a nation community with a relict identity, derived from an ethnically diverse, previously existing polity . The Newar community within it consists of various strands of ethnic, racial, caste and religious heterogeneity, as they are the descendants of the diverse group of people that have lived in Nepal Mandala since prehistoric times. Indo-Aryan tribes like Maithils of Madhesh Province ,
5300-569: The US, the UK, Australia, and Japan. Newar was Nepal Mandala 's (then only known as Nepal) administrative language from the 14th to the late 18th century. The continued official use of Newari into the Shah dynasty is shown by the 1775 treaty with Tibet , which was written in the language, but it was gradually replaced in official use by Gorkhali. From the early 20th century until democratization , Newar suffered from official suppression. During this period,
5400-433: The caste hierarchy seek upward mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the dominant castes or upper castes. It is a process similar to "passing" in sociological terms. This term was made popular by Indian sociologist M. N. Srinivas in the 1950s. Sanskritisation has in particular been observed among mid-ranked members of caste-based social hierarchies. In a broader sense, also called Brahmanisation, it
5500-462: The coming year. Similarly, Bhai Tika is also done during Swanti. It is a ritual observed to worship and respect a woman's brothers, with or without blood relation. 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. In some cases, a real cow may also be a part of the parade. People give such participants money, food and other gifts as
5600-445: 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
5700-520: The culture and religion of orthodox, Aryan, Brahmans, which accepts the Veda as revelation and, generally, adheres to varrṇāśrama-dharma . In this process, local traditions (little traditions) become integrated into the great tradition of Brahmanical religion, disseminating Sanskrit texts and Brahmanical ideas throughout India, and abroad. This facilitated the development of the Hindu synthesis , in which
5800-551: The current Newar civilisation. Newar rule in Nepal Mandala ended with its conquest by the Gorkha Kingdom in 1768. The terms "Nepāl", "Newār", "Newāl" and "Nepār" are phonetically different forms of the same word, and instances of the various forms appear in texts in different times in history. Nepal is the literary ( Sanskrit ) form and Newar is the colloquial ( Prakrit ) form. A Sanskrit inscription dated to 512 in Tistung,
5900-449: The difficulty about the placement of Newar to the inability of scholars to connect it with the migration patterns of the Tibeto-Burman speakers. Since Newar separated from rest of the family very early in history, it is difficult or at least arbitrary to reconstruct the basic stratum that contributed to present day Newar speech. He underscored the point that the language evolved from mixed racial/linguistic influences that do not lend easily to
6000-400: The dominant culture and tradition of the Newars. The divisions of the Newars had different historical developments. The common identity of the Newar was formed in the Kathmandu Valley. Until the conquest of the valley by the Gorkha Kingdom in 1769, all the people who had inhabited the valley at any point in time were either Newar or progenitors of Newar. So, the history of Newar correlates to
6100-555: 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
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#17327655724746200-580: 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 musical instruments are still in use today. Musical bands accompany religious processions in which an idol of
6300-541: 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
6400-747: The former kingdom in establishing coinage system. Later they were made Thikadars or Sikkimese feudal lords 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. Newar religious culture
6500-545: 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
6600-466: The history of the Kathmandu Valley (or Nepala Mandala) prior to the establishment of the modern state of Nepal. The earliest known history of Newar and the Kathmandu Valley blends with mythology recorded in historical chronicles. One such text, which recounts the creation of the valley, is the Swayambhu Purana . According to this Buddhist scripture, the Kathmandu Valley was a giant lake until
6700-614: 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 Taksaris helping
6800-419: The language of administration. However, Newar continued to remain in official use for a time as shown by the 1775 treaty with Tibet which was written in it. A few of the new rulers cultivated the language. Kings Prithvi Narayan Shah , Rana Bahadur and Rajendra Bikram Shah composed poetry and wrote plays in it. Newar suffered heavily under the repressive policy of the Rana dynasty (1846–1951 AD) when
6900-665: The language, can be found in the manuscripts of a commentary to the Nāradasaṃhitā , dated 1380, and a commentary to the Amarkośa , dated 1386. Some inscriptions from the Malla Dynasty refer to the language as deśabhāṣā ( Pracalit Script : 𑐡𑐾𑐱𑐨𑐵𑐲𑐵 , lit. ' language of the country ' ) and svadeśabhāṣā ( Pracalit Script : 𑐳𑑂𑐰𑐡𑐾𑐱𑐨𑐵𑐲𑐵 , lit. ' language of one's own country ' ). Similarly, Father Cassiano da Macerata,
7000-475: The last consonant and lengthening the vowel, "Newā" for Newār or Newāl, and "Nepā" for Nepāl are used in ordinary speech. For over two millennia, the Newa civilization in Central Nepal preserved a microcosm of classical North Indian culture in which Brahmanic and Buddhist elements enjoyed equal status. Snellgrove and Richardson (1968) speak of 'the direct heritage of pre-Islamic India'. The Malla dynasty
7100-480: The late 19th century onwards through their caste organisations by claiming higher social status. Kalwar caste is traditionally involved into distillation and selling of liquor, but around the start of the 20th century, various organisations related to the caste sought to redefine the image of their community through this process. Another example in North India is of Rajput . According to historical evidence,
7200-408: The lunar calendar, so the dates are changeable. Mohani ( Dasain ) is one of the greatest annual celebrations which is observed for several days with feasts, religious services, and processions. During Swanti ( Tihar ), Newars celebrate New Year's Day of Nepal Sambat by doing Mha Puja , a ritual in which our own body is worshipped, which is believed to purifies and strengthens one spiritually for
7300-538: 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. 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
7400-536: The most economically and socially advanced community in Nepal, according to the annual Human Development Index published by UNDP . Newars are ranked the 8th largest ethnic group in Nepal according to the 2021 Nepal census numbering 1,341,363 people constituting 4.6% of the total population. The Kathmandu Valley and surrounding territories constituted the former Newar kingdom of the Nepal Mandala . Unlike other common-origin ethnic or caste groups in Nepal,
7500-403: The most well-known seasonal songs is Sitala Maju . The ballad describes the expulsion of children from Kathmandu in the early 19th century. Another seasonal song Silu is about a pilgrimage to Gosaikunda that went wrong. Ji Waya La Lachhi Maduni is a tragedy song about a newly married couple. The ballad Rajamati about unlucky lovers is widely popular. In 1908, maestro Seturam Shrestha made
7600-472: The name Nepal Bhasa instead of Newari. However, the Central Bureau of Statistics has not been doing so. A colloquial term is Newa Bhaay ( Devanāgarī : नेवा: भाय्, IAST : Nevāḥ Bhāy) is also used. Newar is spoken by over a million people in Nepal according to the 2001 census. With an increase in emigration, various bodies and societies of Newar-speaking people have emerged in countries such as
7700-455: The natives of Nepal are called Newars. It has been suggested that "Nepal" may be a sanskritization of "Newar", or "Newar" may be a later form of "Nepal". According to another explanation, the words "Newar" and "Newari" are colloquial forms arising from the mutation of P to W, and L to R. There are regarded as the Adivasi of Kathmandu Valley. As a result of the phonological process of dropping
7800-410: The official language of Nepal during the Malla dynasty since the 14th century till the end of dynasty in 1769 during which the language was referred as "Nepal Bhasa", a term which literally means "Nepalese Language". However, the language is not the same as Nepali , an Indo-Aryan language and the current official language of Nepal , which only got the name Nepali in the 1930s. Literature in Newar
7900-456: 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 ,
8000-408: The other ethnic groups of Nepal. Newars are divided into various endogamous clans or groups on the basis of their ancient hereditary occupations, deriving its roots in the classic late- Vedic Varna model. Although first introduced in the time of the Licchavis , the present Newar caste system assumed its present shape during the medieval Malla period. Nepal Bhasa , also known as Newar, belongs to
8100-513: The other languages in the branch. The date indicates an approximate time when the language diverged. ɞ Van Driem labelled this branch as "Parakiranti" and included it together with Kiranti branch to form Maha Kiranti group. However, he would later drop this hypothesis. ʌ All languages within this branch have extensive Indo-Aryan vocabulary. It is hypothesised that either ancient IndoAryan admixture happened before Newar-Thangmi-Baram split or that Thangmi-Baram borrowed through Newari. According to
8200-486: The present day Rajput community varies greatly in status, consisting of those with royal lineage to those whose ancestors were petty tenants or tribals who gained land and political power to justify their claim of being Kshatriya . One clear example of Sanskritisation is the adoption, in emulation of the practice of twice-born castes , of vegetarianism by people belonging to the so-called low castes who are traditionally not averse to non-vegetarian food. One more example
8300-424: The regime attempted to wipe it out. In 1906, legal documents written in Newar were declared unenforceable, and any evidence in the language was declared null and void. The rulers forbade literature in Newar, and writers were sent to jail. In 1944, Buddhist monks who wrote in the language were expelled from the country. Moreover, hostility towards the language from neighbours grew following massive migration into
8400-552: The replacement of the 'la' sound with a 'ra' sound, a common practice in historical documents from Nepal. Historically, the term "Newar" itself was rarely used, only finding use in the travelogue of some of the Capuchin missionaries who visited Nepal during the Malla dynasty . Only two sources from the Malla dynasty use the term "Newar" to refer to the language or its script; the multilingual stone inscription of Pratap Malla uses " nevāra ākhara " ("newar alphabet") to refer to
8500-517: The repressive Rana regime till today. The movement arose against the suppression of the language that began with the rise of the Shah dynasty in 1768 AD, and intensified during the Rana regime (1846–1951) and Panchayat system (1960–1990). Sanskritization Sanskritisation (or Sanskritization ) is a term in sociology which refers to the process by which castes or tribes placed lower in
8600-484: 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
8700-479: The royal family also dates from this period; a stone inscription from Bajrayogini Temple of Rudra Malla from 1127 ( NS 293). The Newar language of the Medieval era (879 to 1769 CE) is referred as Classical Newar . It is further classified into Early Classical Newar, used from 879 to 1482, when the period of three kingdom started and Late Classical Newar, from 1482 to 1769, when the Malla dynasty ended . In
8800-419: 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 a high level of skill in
8900-474: The south and the Trishuli River in the west which separated it from the kingdom of Gorkha. Trade, industry and agriculture have been the mainstay of the economy of the Newars. They are made up of social groups associated with hereditary professions that provide ritual and economic services. Merchants, craftsmen, artists, potters, weavers, dyers, farmers and other castes all played their part in creating
9000-969: The success of the Lingayat caste in achieving advancement within Karnataka society by such means with the failure of the Vishwakarma to achieve the same. Their position as a left-hand caste has not aided their ambition. Srinivas was of the view that Sanskritisation was not limited to the Hindu castes, and stated that the semi-tribal groups including Himalayas's Pahadis , central India's Gonds and Oraons , and western India's Bhils also underwent Sanskritisation. He further suggested that, after going through Sanskritisation, such tribes would claim that they are castes and hence Hindus. This phenomenon has also been observed in Nepal among Khas , Magar , Newar , and Tharu people . Yogendra Singh has critiqued
9100-490: The talk of people who are sanskritised. Srinivas first propounded this theory in his D.Phil. thesis at Oxford . The thesis was later brought out as a book, which was an ethnographical study of the Kodava (Coorgs) community of Karnataka . Srinivas writes: The caste system is far from a rigid system, in which the position of each component caste is fixed for all time. Movement has always been possible, and especially in
9200-810: The term Kshatriyisation and Rajputisation in place of Sanskritisation. Sanskritisation is often aimed to claim the Varna status of Brahmin or Kshatriyas, the two prestigious Varna of the Vedic-age Varna system. One of the main example of it is various non-elite pastoral communities like Ahir , Gopa , Ahar , Goala etc. who adopted the Yadav word as part of Sanskritisation effort to gain upward mobility in society during late 19th century to early 20th century. Similar attempts were made by communities who were historically classed as non-elite tillers like Kurmi and various communities like Koeri , Murao etc. from
9300-515: The 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. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 2,500 temples and shrines in
9400-540: The use of masks known as Dyah Pyakhan, dance performed as part of a ritual and meditation practice known as Chachaa Pyakhan ( Newar : चचा प्याखं ) ( Charya Nritya in Sanskrit) and folk dance. There are also masked dance dramas known as Daboo Pyakhan which enact religious stories to the accompaniment of music. The dance done in the tune of Dhime are Dhime dance. Traditional Newa music consists of sacred music, devotional songs, seasonal songs, ballads and folk songs. One of
9500-1161: The use of the language for business and literary purposes was declared illegal, and Newar authors were fined or imprisoned. The Language Commission of Nepal recommended Bagmati Province to provide Nepal Bhasa (Newar) the status of official language, alongside Tamang . The commission also recommends Nepal Bhasa (Newar) for official status in specific areas and purposes in Province No. 1 and Gandaki Province . At local levels, Nepal Bhasa (Newar) has official status in Kathmandu Metropolitan City , Lalitpur Metropolitan City and Kirtipur Municipality Chandragiri Municipality , Shankharapur Municipality, Tarkeshwor Municipality of Kathmandu district; Banepa Municipality , Dhulikhel Municipality of Kavre district; Godavari Municipality of Lalitpur district; and Bhaktapur Municipality , Madhyapur Thimi Municipality of Bhaktapur district have recognized Nepal Bhasa in some ways. Similarly, Bhimeshor Municipality has recognized and made policy-level decisions for Dolakha Nepal Bhasa. Newar
9600-578: The valley and their sovereignty and influence over neighboring territories ended with the conquest of the Kathmandu Valley in 1769 by the Gorkhali Shah dynasty founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah . Prior to the Gorkha conquest, which began with the Battle of Kirtipur in 1767, the borders of Nepal Mandala extended to Tibet in the north, the nation of the Kirata in the east, the kingdom of Makwanpur in
9700-426: Was another major export. Porters and pack mules transported merchandise over mountain tracks that formed the old trade routes. Since the 18th century, Newars have spread out across Nepal and established trading towns dotting the mid hills. They are known as jewelry makers and shopkeepers. Today, they are engaged in modern industry, business and service sectors. Newars forms an ethnolinguistic community distinct from all
9800-410: Was declared as the official language of Bagmati Province . Similarly, Newar is given official status in several city governments of Nepal including Kathmandu . The official and historical name of the language, Nepal Bhasa , which literally means Nepal Language , originates from Nepal . Historically, Nepal was only used to refer to the Kathmandu Valley and its surroundings, where the language
9900-405: Was native to. A larger region surrounding the valley is known as Nepal Mandala . Therefore, the language spoken in Nepal Mandala became known as Nepal Bhasa. The name "Nepal Bhasa" is ubiquitous in sources from the Malla dynasty to refer to the language. The earliest occurrences of the name Nepālabhāṣā ( Devanāgarī : नेपालभाषा) or Nepālavāc ( Devanāgarī : नेपालवाच) used to refer to
10000-555: Was noted for their patronisation of the Maithili language (the language of the Mithila region) which was afforded equal status to that of Sanskrit in the Malla court. Maithil Brahmin priests were invited to Kathmandu and many Maithil families settled in Kathmandu during Malla rule. The influx of people from both the north ( Tibet ) and south ( Tirhut ) increased not only Nepal's genetic and racial diversity but also greatly moulded
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