Newar Dance ( Nepal bhasa:) consists of the whole array of

dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

s that are traditionally performed by

Newar Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisatio ...

Classification

The Newar dances can be classified as traditional masked dances, folk dances, and ritual dances. * Traditional masked dances #Lakhey dance #Astamatrika dance #Navadurga dance #Pulukisi dance (elephant dance) #Sawabhakku #Neelbarahi Naach, Bode, Madhyapur Thimi The Majipa Lakhey dance is a masked dance characterized by vigorous movements and loud music. It is performed by the Ranjitkars of Kathmandu during the

Yanya Punhi Indra Jātrā, also known as Yenyā (Nepal Bhasa: येँयाः), is the biggest religious street festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. The celebrations consist of two events, Indra Jātrā and Kumāri Jātrā. Indra Jātrā is marked by masked danc ...

festival, also known as Indra Jatra, which occurs in September. The dancer and his attendants wander about the streets setting the tone of the festivities. The Gunla Lakhey dance is a similar street performance which tours various parts of the city during Gunla, the tenth month in the Nepal Sambat calendar, which corresponds to August. Almost all Newar settlements have a Lakhey dance troupe. * Folk dances #Jyapu Pyakhan #Tekanpur Pyakhan * Ritual dances #Charya Pyakhan #Gathu Pyakhan # Kumha Pyakhan dance #Daitya Pyakhan Charya Nritya (Chachaa Pyakhan in Nepal Bhasa) is a Buddhist ritual dance with a history going back more than 1,000 years. It is performed by Newar Buddhist priests known as

Bajracharya A vajrācārya (vajra + acharya, Tib. རྡོ་རྗེ་སློབ་དཔོན་, ''dorje lopön'', Wyl. ''rdo rje slob dpon,'' Jp. “kongō ajari” 金剛阿闍梨) is a Vajrayana Buddhist master, guru or priest. It is a general ...

as part of their esoteric meditation practices and rituals. The dancers represent various deities like the Five Buddhas, Manjusri, Vajrayogini and Tara. The song accompanying the dance opens with a salutation and describes the deity's characteristics and accessories. Performances were shown only to the initiated. The first public showing was held during the Fourth World Buddhist Conference held in Kathmandu in 1956.

References

{{Reflist Musical CD: "Charya: The Tantric Musical Tradition of the Kathmandu Valley", Florence-Bologna: A-Buzz Supreme – Stenopeica, 2013 (Collection: "Seeds of Sounds in the An of Power" directed by: Martino Nicoletti) Asian dances