“Thar,” the widely used term in Nepal Bhasa, is derived from a Prakrit term meaning “collection.” In the English dictionary, it is translated as “Clan” or “Tribe”. In the Newa community, besides their given names, a particular household surname called “Thar” is mandatorily added after their names for their entire lives. Simply put, Thar is well known for castes or surnames in everyday language.
Newa thars inside Bhaktapur are heterogeneous units. It has quite different kinds of origins and common descents. Some have shared trade in the past, and some have shared historical origins before settling in Bhaktapur.
Among the designed models of caste and Jaat systems, the main ones in traditional Bhaktapur are the farmers (Jyappus) and the shopkeepers (Sahu).
Other groups share similar characteristics and interests. They are craftsmen, priests, butchers, and, in earlier times, royals, courtiers, and military men. But in recent years, the shifting political system and economic practices have made slight changes in the traditional system of caste.
Classification of Thars inside their macrosocial frame
They have different macrosocial significances and macro levels into which they are sorted after being introduced into the core system.
Brahmans : This macrosocial level holds all the members of one endogenous group, which is called Rajopadhyaya Thar. Purohits and priestly families are Rajopadhyayas. All families were traditionally landlords, and many of them worked in the royal court, including the descendants of the Malla king’s family, their advisors and administrators, and other superior officers. This level includes astrologers, Joshis, Tantriks, priests, and Achaju. Chathar and Panchthar are included in the Bhramans level.
This level of the macro social group is the dominant higher class of the Newari community.
Tini : This is the group that holds special priestly functions to be carried out during the death rituals of the higher and middle levels of the Newari community.
This auxiliary priest holds another important function during the rite of Ihi ceremony of Newari girls
Tama : These are the Tamrakar group of casts. They are associated with metalwork. They make brass and bronze vessels, big and smaller bells, god statues, gods imprinted in metal, and other essential equipment for various rituals.
Kumha and Awa : Because these two casts can intermarry, these two classes are classified at the same level.
Kumha: are the hereditary potters. This group holds the surname Prajapati.
Awa: or Awal, has the hereditary profession of masonry and tile roofing in houses.
Jyapus : This is the class for the farming group in the Newari caste system.
However, this level also includes two other groups with occupational specialties, namely Kami and Lohakami.
Kami is a traditional woodcarver and one of the Newars’ most profound artists. This group is identified with the surname Shilpakar.
Lohakami are stone artists who carve in stone to make various god figurines.
Dwi : Dwi is the group in the Newari community responsible for cleaning the courtyard of the Taleju temple in Bhaktapur.
Cyo : Cyo is generally the farming group inside Newars but is especially important for their ritual function during the death ceremonies of upper-class thars.
Sami : Sami is the group that presses the mustard seed. They are traditionally the ones who extract oil from mustard seeds.
Chipa : Chipa is a group traditionally associated with dying clothes.
Nau: Nau: are the traditional barbers and pedicurists of the Newari community. They are responsible for casting out purification procedures during various pujas and rituals.
Gatha : Gaths are the performers of the ritual dance of Nawa Durga on various occasions. They are also the protectors of Nawa Durga in Bhaktapur. They are also flower growers for religious purposes.
Kau: Kau is the blacksmith and ironworker. They make various agricultural tools, along with others. They might have had huge importance back in the days when agriculture was the major occupation.
Nae: The Nae is the butcher of the Newari community, who slaughters the buffaloes and sells the meat. This group uses only one, called Nae.
Juggi: The Juggi group of the class uses three thars, i.e., Darsandhari, Kapali, and Kusle. They are the hereditary performers of musical instruments called Mwali.
Do(n): This class is the traditional player of the trumpet, which is used during the funeral ritual.
Kulu: This group of the Newa community makes drums and damaru from the skins of animals.
Po(n) or Pore: They are the sweepers, cleaners, Fishman, and makers of certain kinds of basket
Some people, to obscure their caste membership, are changing their surnames (thars) to such mildly virtuous-sounding thars as Shrestha and Shahi. It is simply an obvious attempt to avoid the ambiguous and sophisticated traditional Newari categories, which are the primary cause of discrimination in the Newari community.
Some castes of the Newa community are listed below
- Amatya
- Bataju
- Balami
- Bhuju
- Bhattu
- Bijukche
- Byanju
- Baidhya
- Banjar
- Bhakhuche
- Bajracharya
- Chyamey
- Chitrakar
- Chyamey
- Chuke
- Chaguthi
- Chikanbanjar
- Chhusyabaga
- Chandrahar
- Chhukan
- Chitrakar
- Dhewaju
- Dwa
- Dhuju
- Deshar
- Dhanbanjar
- Daware
- haugoraD
- Duwal
- Dhoubanjar
- Dhoju
- Desemaru
- Dhaubanjar
- Rajopadhyaya
- Joshi
- Malla
- Pradhananga
- Pradhan
- Rajbhandari
- Vaidya
- Shrestha
- Maharjan
- Gubhaju
- Sainju
- Pode
- Sangol
- Nagarkoti
- Rajitkar
- Shakya
- Kansakar
- Kasaju
- Rajthala
- Kashichhawa
- Tamrakar
- Manandhar
- Tuladhar
- Singh
- Khadgi
- Malla
- Makaju
- Tandukar
- Kayastha
- Gopali
- Phaiju
- Silakar
- Malakar
- Karmacharya
- Palanchoke
- Napit
- Kasula
- Goethe
- Nakarmi
- Piya
- Khichaju
- Koju
- Takhachhe
- Rajbhak
- Munikar
- Buddharcharya
- Mulmi
- Silpakar
- Lakhaju
- Majju
- Kaspal
- Karanjit
- Kayastha
- Kasula
- Suwal
- Sthapit
- Prajapati
- Sijapati
- Kutuwa
- Mustang
- Phasikawa
- Musyaju
- Maskey
- Sulpe
- Twyana
- Mul
- Twyanabasu
- Hemba
- Pachhai
- Awale
- Shahi
- Malepati
- Bajimaya
- Pote
- Jojiju
- Rojak
- Pahi
- Maka
- Heaju
- Pasachhe
- Bhutta
- Kisiju
- Pakwan
- Bhari
- Raghubansi
- Sulu
- Kiju
- Banmala
- Mali
- Aalubanjar
- Palubanjar
- Sibanjar
- Lubanjar
- Paun
- Khyaju
- Kusi
- Guwachha
- Gosai
- Pyatha
- Ulak
- Thusaju
- Pusaju
- Basuka
- Udas
- Bekoju
- Lawaju
- Gambanjar
- Leba
- Tuitui
- Gora
- Pentago
- Machamasi
- Gainju
- Kapali
- Baga
- Bata
- Khyamali
- Nayaju
- Bohaju
- Goja
- Takra
- Nhemapuki
- Tachamo
- Basi
- Kasichhuwa
- Lachhimasyu
- Lakhemaru
- Lakhe
- Sujakhu
- Achaju
- Galu
- Ghemosu
- Rakarnikar
- Kharbuja
- Gorkhali
- Madhikarmi
- Kawang
- Kisi
- Lage
- Nayaju
- Twati
- Tyata
- Bata
- Bati
- Ganesh
- Lawaju
- Sukamani
- Sakha
- Sukupayo
- Tamakhu
- Lohala
- Tako
- Khusu
- Kusma
- Sulu
- Ganeju
- Bekoju
- Jyakhow
- Bhasima
References:- नेवारका थरहरू (Newar cast system) – The Newars
What about gaya caste?