Newari architecture

Newari architecture is the architecture developed by Newars. It usually consists of Pagoda, Stupa, Chaitya, Courtyard (Bahal) styles.

Pagoda Style It is the most dominant style of the Newari architecture. It is mostly used to build temples and less often towers of palaces. Almost all the major Newari temples are built in pagoda style. The locales of Kathmandu valley believe that this style of architecture was developed in Kathmandu valley and then exported to various parts of the world by Nepalese architects most notably by Arniko. Although the majority of the temples constructed in this style are dedicated to Hindu deities, a sizable number of pagoda temples are Buddhist temples as well. Most prominent Newari (Nepali) structures built in pagoda style are:- Pashupatinath temple Taleju Bhawani temple Nine storied tower of Kathmandu Darbar Square Nyatapola temple Kumbeshwor temple Nhugha dega temple Changunarayan temple Chandeshwari temple Kasthamandap satal Muktinath temple Naradevi temple Narayanhiti Royal Palace	\

	Stupa Style Stupa style is also very common in Newari architecture. It is exclusively used for consturcting sites of Buddhist pilgrimage. The most noteworthy of stupas are:- Baudhhanath stupa Swayambhunath stupa Sheeghal bihara stupa The five stupas of Patan (constructed by Ashoka) Dhando chaitya Tukabahal stupa

Chaitya A chaitya-griha Buddhist cave (stupa hall) is a meeting or assembly chamber often used for purposes similar to a stupa. In fact, it is not uncommon to find a stupa situated inside the interior space of a chaitya. They are largely associated with Buddhism. Architecturally they show similarities to Roman design concepts of column and arch.

Courtyards The basic unit of Newari cities are courtyards. Depending on the size, utility and various other entities, the courtyards are classified as: Nanee Bahal Chuka Sagal

Newar Rituals in Life

Pre Natal

There are many pre natal rituals, however majority of those : pusawan kriya, simatopanayan, for example are no longer in existence. Nevertheless, Dhau baji nakegu (offering yogurt and flattened rice along with yomari, sweets etc) during pregnancy is still practiced by many castes.

Birth
After child birth, it is informed to maternal home of the mother. It is done by sending sugar candy, nutmeg, ginger etc. After the birth, concerned family becomes ritually impure. They become pure after 'Machaboo byanke' tradition which is done on forth, sixth or tenth day after the child birth.

There is also a tradition of offering different kinds of foods from maternal home of the mother within a month of delivery, which is known as 'Baji nakah wonegu' or ' Machaboo swahwanegu'.

Macha Janko (the rice feeding)
The rice feeding is done in 6th or 8th month (in case of a boy) and in 5th or 7th month (in case of a girl). After worshipping Ganesh, the child is offered rice pudding with verities of food. It is believed that the child gets similar food throughout his life as the food offered on that day.

Busankha (Boys)
Busankha means shaving of hair. it is done at the age of 6 or 7. Shaving of hair is done by the maternal uncle of the boy, sister of the boy's father holds the shaved hair. These days, busankha is done at the time of 'kayatapuja'.

Kayatapuja (Boys)
Kayatapuja or fixing of loin cloth is done to mark the attainment of puberty. Bajracharya and Shakyas perform the tonsure ceremony, Chudakarma. During this, one has to visit shrines and pay homage to Kwahpahdyoh and make offerings. After kayatapuja, Jyapus and Sayamis undergo Ohla (which is less practiced these days.)

Ihi (Girls)
This is a ritual symbolic marriage with a bel (byah) fruit, the symbol of lord Vishnu. This ceremony, celebrated at the age of 5-11 , is done to prevent widowhood. As they are married to immortal lord, the Newar girls never become widow.

The girls are also taught household works in Ihi.

Bahra (Girls)
After Ihi, a Newar girl undergo bahra, ritual confinement of a girl before the onset of menstruation. A girl is kept separated from all males and from sunlight for 12 days. On 12th day the girl has to pay homage to the sun.

Ihipa (Marriage)
Marriage in Newar culture is social union of two families. The parents arrange marriage for their sons and daughters. After the groom's and bride's families decision, the marriage is confirmed by giving 10 betel nuts along with fruits, sweets etc (known as lakha) from groom's family to the bride.

Marriage ceremony is performed at the time scheduled by the astrologer. Swayamber, Honkegu, Chipa Theeke (symbol of sharing everything) is performed. Bride presents 10 betel nuts to all her family members. Brother of her mother, paju, takes on his back and carries her out of the house. He then presents her to the groom's family.

The bride's family visit the groom's house on the 4th day , to see how the bride is being treated , which is known as Khwah soye (seeing the bride's face).

Jyah Janko
Jyah janko is old age ceremony to mark one's longevity. It is celebrated for five times.

• First - Bhimratharohan - At the attainment of 77 years, 7 months, 7 days
• Second - Chadraratharohan - At the attainment of 83 years, 4 months, 4 days
• Third - Devaratharohan - At the attainment of 88 years, 8 months, 8 days
• Forth - Divyaratharohan - At the attainment of 99 years, 9 months, 9 days
• Fifth - Mahadivyaratharohan - At the attainment of 105 years, 8 months, 8 days

Sithan
As soon as a person dies, all the Guthi (social organisation) members are informed. Four lamps are set around the four direction of the corpse. Mha gele, adoration of the corpse is marked. Funeral procession is accompanied with Nayahkhin drum followed by a lot of people wailing and crying. Cremation is different in different castes

Music system in newari

Music system in newari The Newars are very much rich in traditional, classical and folk music as in dances. Various music and dance events take place in different parts of Newar societies on the occasion of different festivals. In fact, the Newars are so duly intermixed with music and dances that not a single festival, feast or ceremony, 'from womb to tomb', passes without a music or music and dances. Various songs, musical instruments and dances are connected with various religious, social and cultural life of the Newars Different musical instruments are in practice in the festival, feasts, ceremonies and also in funeral procession. Musical It is believed that there are about 200 (two hundred) types of original musical instruments in Nepal, and 108(one hundred eight types) of musical instruments have been found till now. A great number of Newar musical instruments are included init. These instruments can be classified into four classes according to Sangeet Shastra. 1.     Membranophones - Dhimay, Dhah, Paschima, NayaKhin etc. 2.     Idiophones - Bhusyah, Chhusyah, TainNain etc. 3.     Chordophones - Piwancha 4.     Aerophones - Muhali, Nekoo, Bansuri etc. Mostly used musical instruments in Newar societies are membranophones, which are generally accompanied with idiophones and aerophones.

. Newar Dance

The Newars are very much rich in traditional, classical and folk music as in dances. Various music and dance events take place in different parts of Newar societies on the occasion of different festivals. In fact, the Newars are so duly intermixed with music and dances that not a single festival, feast or ceremony, 'from womb to tomb', passes without a music or music and dances. There are many mask dances, folk dances and classical dances the newars perform. A number of mask dances are also performed once in every twelve years. In general, these all types of dances can be classified into three categories Masked Dances - Mahakali Dance, Bhairab Dance, Sikali Dance, Various Gan Pyakhan etc. Folk Dances - Jyapu Dance, Ghintanmuni etc. Charya Dances - ManjuShree, Arjya Tara, Sodasa Lasya etc.

Cast system prevailing in newari

Newar caste system is the system by which Newars, the indigenous people of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, are divided into groups on the basis of their occupations.The Newar system varies from the typical South Asian religious model in various aspects.The Buddhist priestly class has been 'castified,' resulting in a 'double-headed' caste-system: the Hindu Brahmins and the Buddhist Vajracharyas at the top, each claiming equal stature in the hierarchy. Beneath them is the Newar nobility and Vaishyas. The Shudra grouping is the most differentiated, with specialized castes for métiers needed in the daily lives of the Newars or for their and cultural or ritual needs.Another prominent feature of the system is the existence of caste blocks in the hierarchy. While the hierarchy of the blocks may not be disputed, the individual positions of the castes within each block is also disputed by the castes themselves. Since separate caste systems were in practice in the different Newar city-states #and their provinces#, some researchers look at the Newars as having several caste systems, rather than one unified system.^{[citation needed]}The Newar caste system may be called Kshetriya-centric because the entire system exists around the personage of the king. The Brahmins are higher in caste status than the king not because they are more powerful, but because of their superior ritual status. The brahmins are like all other specialized service providers, except that they are considered higher to others in ritual purity.Unlike other contemporary South Asian class systems, the Newar system still features the king prominently in his ritual obligations in the various festivals and functions throughout the annual religious calendar. He still mediates between the gods and his subjects; in this respect, as the representative of divinity, he is considered divinity itself.

The most successful attempt at imposing the caste system was made in the nineteenth century by Jung Bahadur Rana who was very keen to have his own status raised to highest possible level. Jung Bahadur became the first of the Ranas and his task was to establish the legitimacy of Ranas and secure Rana control over the land. He succeeded in introducing the caste system to a much grater degree than the Malla Kings had done just over four hundred years before him. He decided to put all Newari speaking people into a single caste category at the lower level, known in local parlance as 'Matwali', meaning liquor drinkers. Even Newar Brahmins who had been serving as priests for Newars lost ritual status vis-a-vis the 'pure Bahuns', the Parvate Bahuns, of the Khas people language speaking community. The old Newar upper caste, the Shrestha, were also reduced to Matwali status. As a consequence, among the Newars, caste has become more complex and stratified than among the non-Newar Bahun Chhetri-Thakuri group. This latter group may consider all Newar people to be equally Matwali, all essentially of the Vaishya caste, but this is not the perception of the Newar themselves.Within the Hindu Newars, there are the Newari Brahmins who are on top of the Newar social hierarchy. Their number is very small and few are visible in any form of public life today. The second group corresponding as the Kshatriya verna is the Shrestha, which includes the old Newari aristocracy and upper class. Within the Shrestha community there are three hierarchically ranked groups which describe themselves as Chhathare, Panch-thare, and Char-thare, literally 'six'-, 'five'-, and 'four'-grade Shresthas. The Chha-thare are the highest class among them and in fact consider themselves above almost all Newars. They do not call themselves 'Shrestha', but use their family or clan names, for example, Pradhan, Malla, Pradhananga, Munshi, Joshi, Amatya, Maskey, Rajbhandari, and so on. Some people believe that Chha-thare is not the correct word to describe them. The term appears to be a corruption of the word 'Chhetri' which immediately brings to mind another element of status classification. The Chha-thare Shresthas do follow many traditions very similar to those of the Chhetris. While the Cha-thare Shresthas are the Newari aristocrats, 'Panch-thare' Shrestha are like the Chhetri among the Nepali-speaking people and have been drawn from multiple backgrounds, often from successful merchant families. Char-thare are the new entrants from the lower castes.

As result of Jayasthiti Malla's attempt as classifying Kathmandu Valley society according to caste principles, Buddhist Newars have their own counterparts. Vajracharya are at the top like Hindu Newar-Brahmins; then there are Shakya. This indicates that they were ordained as Buddhist monks at some time in history. This is followed by the predominantly Buddhist Urāy group which collectively includes Tuladhar, Kansakar, Tamrakar, Sthapit, Bania, and other castes who are involved in highly trained craftsmanship and trade.

The next occupational caste consists of people who formed the majority of the people of Kathmandu Valley - peasants, farmer, vegetable growers, florists, potters, bricklayers and many other professions, are collectively called the Jyapu. Jyapu literally means 'competent worker' in the Newari language. Some of the prominent castes within this group are Maharjan, Dangol, Chitrakar, Singh, Manandhar, Prajapati, etc.^{[citation needed]} They have provided significant contribution to Nepali society and have been seen as the backbone of Newar community. The Jyapu were turned into a low caste category during the Malla period, acquiring the designation of Shudra or peasants. But the Jyapu remained united and never allowed themselves to pushed into the position of serfdom of slavery as many non-Hindu tribes in the plains were forced to do. They had a long history and strong internal social organization. They have been in control of the important means of production, namely the agricultural land, for generations. Jyapus are among the most progressive farmers in Nepal.

Marriage is, as a rule, patrilocal and monogamous. The parents traditionally arrange marriages for their sons and daughters, although with the modernization of Nepali society, an increasing number of young people choose their own partners.

Partners must belong to different descent-group lineages within the same caste, living outside of the large urban areas. Among the Shresthas, since they are subdivided into three grades, one's marriage partner must be from the same grade as well.

Buddhist Newars living in a baha—a residential quadrangle around a central court with Buddhist shrines and temples—consider themselves to be of common descent, making intermarriage a taboo.

In some areas the rule of 'seven generations' of descent is also observed; members who fall within the common descent group of seven generations are restricted from intermarriage.

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.

Caste - (Traditional Occupation) - Personal Surname

1. Deo Brahmin - (Hindu Family Priests) - Rajopadhyaya

2. Bhatta Brahmin - (Hindu Temple Priests) - Bhatta

3. Jha Brahmin - (Hindu Temple Priests) - Jha

4. Gubhaju - (Buddhist Priests) - Vajracharya, and Bare - (Gold and Silver Smiths) - Shakya, Bhikshu, Gurju

5. Shrestha - (Administrators, Courtiers, Nobility) - Malla, Pradhan, Raj Bhandari, Joshi, Shrestha, Maske, Karmacharya and others.

6. Uray - (Merchants and Craftsmen) - Tuladhar, Tamrakar, Kansakar, Awa, Sikarmi, and others

7. Jyapu - (Farmers) - Maharjan, Dangol, Duwal, Sapu, Kabhuja, Musa, Lawat

8. Kuma - (Potters) - Kumale, Prajapati

9. Saymi - (Oilpressers) - Manandhar

10. Khusa - (Palanquin Bearers) - Khusa, Tandukar

11. Nau - (Barbers) - Napit

12. Kau - (Blacksmiths) - Nakarmi

13. Bha - (Funeral Duties, Dying) - Karamjit, Bha

14. Gathu - (Gardeners) - Bammala, Mali

15. Tepe - (Cultivators) - Tepe

16. Pun - (Painters) - Citrakar

17. Duhim - (Carriers) - Putwar, Dali

18. Balami - (Fieldworkers) - Balami

19. Pulu - (Funeral Torch Bearers) - Pulu

20. Cipa - (Dyers) - Ramjitkar

21. Jugi - (Musicians and Tailors) - Kusle

22. Naye - (Butchers and Musicians) - Kasain, Khadgi, Shahi

23. Kulu - (Drum-makers) - Kulu

24. Pore - (Fishermen and Sweepers) - Pore, Deola

25. Chami - (Sweepers) - Chami, Camkhala

26. Halahulu - (Sweepers) - Halahulu.

Newar (Newah) History

INTRODUCTION

                        The term Newar (or Newah) stands for a group of people. However, if we see the Nepalese history, we'll find that the terms 'Newar' and 'Nepal' have been used interchangeably. The term 'Nepal' is first found in 'Atharva Parishista' (4th Century B.C.). The term 'Kirat Pradesh' can be found in earlier documents. According to this, it is understood that the term 'Kirat' not only stands for Rai, Limbu or Sunuwar but also stands for all the people living here at that time, including the Newars. The term 'Swasti Naipalavya' is inscribed in three inscriptions of Tistung. (One dated 512 AD & other two dated 607 AD). 'Naipalavya' means the Nepals i.e. plural form of Nepal. (Here, 'Nepal' has been used as the people living in a particular place.). The term 'Newar' is derived from this very term 'Nepal'. According to the researches, Indus Valley civilization is the ancient Vedic civilization and it evolved before the Aryans came to India. Newar civilization is believed to be much older than the Indus civilization. The nature and geography of Nepal prove this fact. (Pradhan, Bhuwan Lal, Nepalko Itihas ra Sanskriti ka kehi Pakshya, Kathmandu : NRPP, p. 129 ) The Newar civilization began in 6th century B.C. (Bista, Dor Bahadur, The people of Nepal, Kathmandu : Ratna Pustak Bhandar, p. 17). The Newar civilization evolved much earlier than the period of the Buddha and the Guptas. The temples and other monuments in Nepalmandala prove this fact without any doubt. (Malla K. Sundar, Newah Mhaseeka, Kathmandu : Malla, p.20) The written history of Nepal begins with the dynasty of Gopal (Sa Poo) and Mahispal (Mey Poo). The Gopali people are still found in Tistung, Palung and near villages. According to the research done on Gopali people by Dr. Chunda Bajracharya, she has concluded that the Gopali people are still following Newar culture and language. So the Gopali people are the Newars. This clarifies that the Newars are the first rulers of Nepal. Since then, the Newars are still living here. However, many immigrants came to Nepal mandal from different places in different time and followed Newar language & culture and became Newars. This brought cultural and lingual diversity among the Newars. 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 Newa as their mother language.

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.

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.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.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.