Nepal is the land of various castes. ‘The Newars’ are the ones whom we are somewhat familiar. Now I’m going to tell a few facts about them.
‘The Newars’ were the original inhabitants of Kathmandu valley which is still the strong hold of the Newar in Nepal. But when and how did they first get there? According to historians there isn’t enough evidence in supporting of any facts about their origin.
In theory of Indian origin, some believe that they come from the North East other hold Newar come from a country called Nayera. Which is how situated in Kerala. The believer in ‘Nayera Theory’ hold that the name Newar is close to “Nayera”. Most of them are originally Buddhist but after the majority of hindu rulers they gradually converted to Hindu.
But some also said that as the Newar language is to Tibeto-Burman origin therefore the Newar must have come from the north. However, the language is also influenced by Sanskrit to large degree and the old alphabets were derived from the ancient north Indian Kautilya script rather than the Tibetan.
Nepal is a country of wide variety of forty main ethnic groups all with their own languages and cultures. The earliest inscription in Nepal is found of temple at Changu Narayan in 464 AD. At this time the Kathmandu valley was a center for art and intellectual knowledge. The early Newar art and architecture form the period was very famous all over the world. Pagoda style temple, wooden crafts, stone-sculpture and typical house are the example of it. Newar architect and Artist were famous in China in 13th century. Araniko the great architect of Nepal. He did great architectural work at his time. He was not only famous in Nepal but also very famous in China too.
In late 14th century Malla dynasty flourished the Newar Art and culture. In the mean time they developed urban, infrastructure that is durbar square (layaku). Most of the creation of Malla dynasty was diminished from great earthquake in 1934. In some of the part historical evidence still found in Kathmandu valley. It was mentioned in Newars history that in 15th and 16th century architectural activities reaches their heights, and hundreds of temples, shrines and public places were constructed by the Newar Architecture.
The creativity of Newars extended beyond construction of temples and shrines. Kathmandu valley was an intellectual centre in the field of art and architectural activities at that time. Great change started from 13th century when three cities acted as three jealous kingdom. Not the Malla rulers to a new threat from outside 18th century Prithvi Narayan Shah a powerful king from Gorkha, won these three cities simultaneously. Then after the Shah Dynasty laid the foundation for the modern Nepal. Newar culture began to elope then. But whatever the caste may be, we all are the sons and daughters of this heavenly kingdom ‘Nepal’. We are the flowers of this garden.
Jashma Sainju
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