Newa people
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
1,321,933 (5% of Nepal population) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Nepal | |
| Languages | |
| Nepal Bhasa | |
| Religion | |
| Hindu, Buddhism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Nepali; Indo-Aryan peoples; Tibeto-Burman speakers; Nepal Mandala peoples |
The Newar or Newah (/nɪˈwɑːr/;Newar: नेवा:) are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal, and the creators of its historic heritage and civilization. Newars form a linguistic and cultural community of primarily Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman ethnicities following Hinduism and Buddhism with Nepal Bhasa as their common language. Newars have developed a division of labour and a sophisticated urban civilization 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 civilization of Nepal.
The valley and surrounding territories constituted the former Newar kingdom of the Nepal Mandala. Unlike other common-origin ethnic or caste groups of Nepal, the Newars are regarded as an example of a nation community with a relict identity, derived from an ethnically-diverse, previously-existing polity. Newar community within it consists of various strands of ethnic, racial, caste and religious heterogeneity, as Newars of today are descendants of the diverse group of people that have lived in Nepal Mandala since prehistoric times. Indo-Aryan immigrants like the Licchavis and Mallas that arrived at different periods eventually merged with the local population by adopting their language and customs. These immigrants however retained their Indic heritage and brought with them their Sanskritic languages, social structure, Vedic religion and culture which has profoundly altered the history of Newar civilization. Newar rule in Nepal Mandala ended with its conquest by the Gorkha Kingdom in 1768.
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Wikipedia