Newah in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Newar, (AKA, Newah) one of the most cultured ethnic groups in Nepal, were the country's earliest inhabitants. An important part of the Newah civilization was trade; they were the ones who organized trade between India and Tibet. For about 1,000 years the Newah civilization blended aspects of Hinduism from the south and Buddhism from the north. There are myths regarding the creation and origin of the Kathmandu Valley where the Newah people developed a prosperous civilization. This civilization was conquered by the Gorkha Kingdom in 1769. They speak Newah, a Tibeto-Burman language that has borrowed many words from Sanskrit, Maithili and Nepali. There are several dialects of their language.
Though the Newah are scattered throughout Nepal, they are primarily concentrated in the Katmandu Valley. There is a smaller number of them northern India, Bangladesh and Bhutan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Newah society is traditionally caste-based (as in India) with distinct caste-systems being centered in each of the old royal cities of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. Traditionally intermarriage was largely restricted to one's fellow caste members and boys were expected to follow the occupation of their fathers. Today the modern economy means there is theoretically freedom to follow almost any trade, but inter-caste marriage is still widely frowned upon if not seriously punished.
Trade and agriculture have a longstanding history among the Newar people. Newah sons take over the occupation of their fathers. That could mean sons learn farming, a trade, a craft or how to function well as a merchant. Newah societies are patrilineal, which means that the line of descent is traced through the males. Members of the same family line generally worship the same gods. Marriages are almost always arranged by the parents, and they use a mediator to complete the formalities. In their free time, the Newah people enjoy indoor sports and board games. These games often involve gambling. There are some outdoor sports like soccer, but this is usually limited to urban areas.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Hinduism, Buddhism, and traditional ethnic beliefs are all a part of the Newah's religious lives. Some Newahs are self-consciously Hindu and others self-consciously Buddhist, but most would not recognize the distinction. For them it is more important to follow the traditions of the ancestors than it is to argue about religious affiliation or doctrine. Newahs worship a multitude of gods, many of which are local gods and others are more clearly identified with the prestigious deities worshipped to the south, especially Shiva. They also believe in the existence of demons, hostile spirits the dead, ghosts and witches. Traditional practices include the digu dya rituals, in which they feed frogs after rice planting. They think that cremation grounds, crossroads and huge stones are often haunted. They believe diseases are caused by the ill will of the "mother goddess," witchcraft or evil spells. Treatments include reciting incantations, making offerings to the gods, and using herbs and other medicines.


What Are Their Needs?

Portions of the Bible and several other Christian resources have been translated into Newah language. Who will call their attention to these?


Prayer Points

Pray that the sheer wonder of knowing Jesus and the impact he has on their lives and the joy he brings spur believers to share Christ with the Newah people in India.
Pray the hearts of the Newah people would be stirred by a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit readying them for the time when they hear the gospel message being shared with them.
Pray they will experience dreams and visions of Jesus leading them into a saving relationship with him.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among the Newah people in India.


Scripture Prayers for the Newah in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Newah
People Name in Country Newah
Alternate Names Mewar; Nepal Bhasa; Newar; नेवाह
Population this Country 190,000
Population all Countries 1,717,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
PeopleID3 13322
ROP3 Code 107217
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 26
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
112,000
Assam
43,000
Sikkim
26,000
Delhi
1,800
Arunachal Pradesh
1,400
Uttar Pradesh
1,100
Uttarakhand
800
Bihar
600
Tripura
400
Meghalaya
400
Maharashtra
300
Manipur
300
Andhra Pradesh
300
Madhya Pradesh
300
Andaman and Nicobar
200
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 26  (only 20 largest shown)
  West Bengal 112,000
  Assam 43,000
  Sikkim 26,000
  Delhi 1,800
  Arunachal Pradesh 1,400
  Uttar Pradesh 1,100
  Uttarakhand 800
  Bihar 600
  Tripura 400
  Meghalaya 400
  Maharashtra 300
  Manipur 300
  Andhra Pradesh 300
  Madhya Pradesh 300
  Andaman and Nicobar 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
5.32 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
92.67 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nepali (144,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Newar
18,000
Bengali
5,100
Hindi
800
Lepcha
300
Darmiya
70
Bhojpuri
30
Primary Language Nepali (144,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Newar 18,000
  Bengali 5,100
  Hindi 800
  Lepcha 300
  Darmiya 70
  Bhojpuri 30
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2024)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible The Love Fellowship
Mobile App Android Bible app: TBS Nepali Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Nepali Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Nepali General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Nepali Bible Stories Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Nepali Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Don Brown 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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