Tamrakar

Tāmrakār (Devanagari: ताम्रकार) is a caste of coppersmiths and other metal casters found in Nepal and India. In Nepal, the Tamrakars are found among the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley.

The name Tamrakar is derived from the Sanskrit words "tamra", meaning copper, and "aakar", meaning shape or to give shape.

In Nepal Bhasa, they are known as Tamo (Tamrakar from Patan) or Tamot or Tawo (Tamrakar from Kathmandu). They are skilled craftsmen with a distinct culture among Newars. They follow both Hinduism and Buddhism.

In India, the various names for the caste include Tamrakar (in Madhya Pradesh), Tambatkar, Tamera, Thathera, Thathara, Kasar, Kasera, Kansara (in Gujarat), Kangabanik (West Bengal), Otari, Twasta Kasar and Tambat (Maharashtra). In Goa, they claim Brahmin status and call themselves Twashta Kasar Brahmin. In northern India, they also identify themselves as "Haihaivanshi Tamrakar Samaj", claiming Kshatriya descent from Sahastrabahu Arjuna and Haihaya dynasty.

In Nepal, Tamrakars are spread all over the Kathmandu Valley, but are mostly concentrated in the heart of Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Many live in various towns across Nepal. In Kathmandu, the main Tamrakar neighborhoods are Maru at Durbar Square, Yatkha Baha and Mahabati (Mahabouddha).

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