|
The Newar People
It is not surprising that the Newar people were influenced by Tibet
and India. What is surprising is their creativity response to this
stimulus, which actually led to a genuine exchange with their giant
neighbors. Mediaeval Near society has left a religious architectural
and artistic legacy that is unique, and spectacular by any standard.
Although most Newars have Mongoloid physical characteristics, some
don't, so their origins are shrouded in mystery. It is now generally
accepted that they are a mixture of many different peoples who were
attracted to the valley, possibly origination with the Kiratis, or an
even earlier group, Perhaps the Newars' most striking characteristic is
their love of communal life. Newar houses were invariably clustered
together, usually around sites of religious significance. Although
their economy was centered around agriculture and trade, they created
sophisticated urban communities which catered to a breadth of human
needs in an integrated way that has rarely been matched.
Today
there are around 600,000 Newars largely centered in the Kathmandu
Valley. Always traders and merchants, the Newars continue to fill this
role throughout the kingdom. Their proximity to the center of power has
also led to them having a disproportionate influence in the
bureaucracies of Kathmandu. many now live in heartbreakingly ugly
bungalows on the outskirts of the city proper, and many of their
traditions are on the wane.
| |
