Rajkarnikar

The Rajkarnikar are a Newar clan, the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, which is Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, its sister city, Lalitpur, Patan, and Bhaktapur. The Rajkarnikar clan are also called halwais or palma halwais. The traditional Rajkarnikar occupation is making candy and sweet confections, known as "mithai". Although slowly declining in number, hundreds of Rajkarnikar sweet shops, or mithai pasals, can still be found in the Kathmandu Valley and in other cities and towns with established Newar communities.

Nowadays, Rajkarnikars are found in many places out of the valley as well. It has been found that some families of Dharan and surrounding areas write Halwai in their castes even though they are Rajkarnikars. There is an active Rajkarnikar Society that is located at Hastinagal Mahabihar at Mangalbazaar, Lalitpur.

Some of the popular sweets from mithai pasals are Jeri, Swari,Puri,Rasbari, Peda, Burfi, Laddoo, Lal Mohan, Lakhamari, Malpuwa, Halwa, Guwaramari etc. Sweets from mithai pasals are especially popular treats during festivals and weddings in Nepal.

Ram Bhandar, run by one of the Rajkarnikar families (Agni Rajkarnikar family) in Thapathali in Kathmandu, is the most popular mithai shop in Nepal. Established about a hundred years back, it still exists, though overshadowed by 'new' establishments by Indian companies.

KATHMANDU: Some 122 years and four generations after their forefathers began sweetshop trade, the Rajkarnikar family today aspires to carry on and expand the business in tune with the changing trends and times. Established in 1880 in Maru tole, Purna Ashok Bhandar is one of the oldest sweet shops in the locality. “Our forefathers first started off in a rented shop and later bought the house,” said Dhirja Das Rajkarnikar, 71, who now leads a retired life, as his sons run the business. “We are planning to open a branch in Baneswore, “ said 23-year-old Sanjay Rajkarnikar, Dhirja’s youngest son. The family originally hailed from Patan. The family settled in Kathmandu after Bhan Das Rajkarnikar, Dhirja’s grandfather, moved over due to a family dispute, eyeing the better prospects the town offered. Thereafter, his family initially sold their sweet products in wholesale in the surrounding villages. And eventually the Rajkarnikars began selling their sweets in retail.

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Wikipedia