Newari House is the most distinguishable foundation that Newars have always remained proud of. The essence of the house for Newars remains unchanged despite the modernization that has taken over the entire world.
Typical Newa houses undeniably are the peace of art. People inhabited the magnificent buildings and homes that were all around them.
Traditional Newari House is usually rectangular in plan shape and drives over three stories. The fabulous exposed terracotta brick piled up together gives the calm flavor of the simplicity of Newars.
The sophisticatedly well-carved latticed windows and doorways are what Newa house is famous for.
More to this, a typical Newari House is set in a well-populated community called “Tol”. These houses are stacked to create blocks around a central layer courtyard called Chowk. Each house inside Chowk holds an almost similar pattern and architectural style.
Typically in the Newari house, the ground floor is called Chidi. This space is mostly used to store agricultural equipment, manure, and bathrooms. The Chidi room being used for living purposes is a rare sight in typical Newari households.
Similarly, the chidi includes a staircase on the corner made out of wood. The majority of staircases, however, are single-flighted and occasionally ornately carved.
The stairway leads to the upper section of the house. For personal rooms and visitor reception, respectively, the first floor, “Matang,” and the second floor, “Chuata,” are used. Likewise, the uppermost section is the attic, which is called the buigal. This space is used for the kitchen.
Other facts about a Newa house
Mind your head while entering
The Newari house is cozy and the doors to it are shorter in height. The most significant aspect of the height of the doors is that they are made small on purpose. Visitors should cease to bow their heads while entering Newari space. A mandatory bow is forced or else you will bump your head.
Despite having a small entrance and low ceilings, Newari houses have a welcoming atmosphere to offer.
So why are they made smaller in height?
To Newars, Home is a sentiment and culture more than just concrete walls. Every day they celebrate their home by offering Ganga Jal ( pure water). Also, the two sides doorways are offered with vermillion and flowers every morning. Each doorway is offered with puja before any auspicious celebration in the house once in a while.
The entrance is made smaller in height so that, every time we visit the house we have to make a mandatory bow. The gesture is similar to bowing down in front of Gods. For, a house is a temple for Newars.
Back in ancient days, even though the main entrance of the palace is founded in a larger structure other doorways inside palaces were built smaller in height. Not even Kings and ministers were left untouched from the customarily driven mandatory bow before entering the residence.
However, many hypothetically believe that the doorways of the palace were made smaller for defensive purposes. When the palace suffers an attack, the Dwarpal ( the defender of the palaces) could easily splash the neck of the attackers. Because smaller doorways would oblige enemies to gather their heads to hold downward. The neck will enter the door first, which will make the throat cut easy.
Some special pujas are held in the name of the house as part of the culture, history, and tradition of the people. Not just a concrete piled up but it’s something that is held within the sentiment of Newars.
Mu lukha Puja
Before settling in any house a house has to undergo Special puja of its entrance “Lukha ”. A sacrifice is made in the name of lukha along with puja held by Sikarmi(carpenter) who is responsible for setting the door of the house. A big feast is hosted by the house owner, especially for the person who has given hand in setting the shape of the house i.e. Sikarmi, Dakarmi, and so on.
Dhuri Puja
Dhuri Puja is the puja held at the final stage of the erection of the house. The house is covered with roofing tiles(Aypa)and the completion of the house is marked by installing a flag made of wood and multicolor cloth. This somehow symbolizes the house as the temple where God resides to protect people in collaboration.
Many other pujas are held time and again making offerings to entrances to maintain away the evil spirit inside the home.
A typical Newari home itself is a pack of amusement and wonders. It is an indispensable component of heritage that beautify Bhaktapur so much.
Even though Newas settled in the majority of locations, primarily in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur, very few typical Newari homes are in existence today. With the emergence of new technology and western concrete building fashion, the typicality of Newars is lost somewhere.
However, in Bhaktapur, a typical pattern of fusion with concrete technology in house building is widely promoted by people and even by Municipality. Bhaktapur Municipality has announced financial aid to those who facilitate their house-making in the typical flavor of the Newar pattern.