1) The People of Sankhu
When Srikrishna settled the cowherds in Kathmandu valley. There was Dharmapal the first King of Gopal dynasty. Later Lichhvi and Malla Kings ruled. Malla might be the cross generation of Lichhvi and Kiranti King. The people of Sankhu also are the generations of them. The Kings of valley also ruled in this ancient town Sankhu.
The Newars of Sankhu having the difference species are in existence. Some are Bajracharya (The worshippers of Bajrayoginee), Shakya (The early bankers), Malla (The followers of King), Rajbhandari, Napit, Kapali and so on. Anyway Sankhu is the community of the Newars. Out of the Newars some are teachers, some are the government jobe holders and some are businessmen. Similarly most of them have been engaged in agriculture and some are in security forces as well as politics.
2) The Culture of Sankhu
There are Hindu and Buddhist Newars in Sankhu. Who have religious tolerance. All of them have different Guthis (The early co-operative societies) and they organise feasts (bhoj) in time to time. They all celebrate different jatras. There are 64 lingeswar Mahadev including Kageshwor Mahadev, Manichoodeswor, Jogeswor Mahadev, Narayan Bageswar, Jyotirlingeswor, Ratnachudeswor, Kileswor, similarly there are 9 (nine) chaityas they are : waha, Guwaha, Thathuwaha, Yanwaha, Suyawaha, Kowaha, Mansuwaha. Likewise there are 8 toles namely Dhunla tole, Salkha tole, Chalakhu tole, Dugahiti tole, suntole, Illatole, Ipatole, Pukhulachhi tole. Every tole has Astamatrika and Ganesh (Vinayak) spot to worship.
According to their culture the people of Sankhu celebrate different Jatra festivals at 7 stages they are : Dhadanu dabali, Jana dabali, Devi dabali, Layaku dabali, Sasudha dabali, Bhidha dabali and Pyakhan dabali. There are different bands to play with various songs and dances. The Newars perform Ghintanghising, Narsingh jatra and Sattal Singh, Byadha pyankh, Dunga pyankh, Shahi nach, Ropain nach, Baman nach, Lakhe nach etc. dances, Out of the dances Devi dance and Bhairab, Chandinach of Kaye Astami are unique of Sankhu. Dashain and Deepawali are also celebrated as other community.
During the festivals of Janaipurnima of Sharawan Shuklapaksha Purnima Kwanti (The mixed 9 grain pulses) cooked and eten by offering Bwacha and respecting the guests. They take bath at 9 (Nine) natural taps during 9 days which is also called Gunupunhi in their local words. After then Saparu, Khyali, Lakhe, Hile, Baman, Narsingh dances are performed in Sankhu. The family members disguise as form of cow on the memory of dead spirit and march around the city. The bamboo sticks, Lusi bottles of wine or beer, water pot karuwa, flowers are played with the unique music of Tahamacha. There is satirical or ironic presentation in Ropain Jatra.
There is also the culture of Ihi of virgin girls Bel-Bibaha, Surya Bibaha as other Newars also do in the valley or other locality. There are also other festivals like Gunla parba, Yanya punhi, Sithi nakha, Ghantakarna, Mhapuja at Tihar, Yomari Purnima, Gorakhnath, Shivaratri, Holi, Nabaratri, Pahan charhe, Ram nawami, Mother's day, Father's day. The foods like Yomari, Chatamari, Bara, Chhoyala, Kachila with Baji are unique foods in Sankhu.
3) Economic Status of Newari Community
Newari community is prosperous in comparison with other surrounding i.e. Brahmin, Kshetri, Tamang and others. The Newars have Guthi Traditionally and co-operative society or Finance company of modern society. The save and invest in the Guthi as well as other companies so they from capital. The farmers grow potato, paddy, vegetables fruits like hugplum, persimon. They produce the pickles and sell in the festivals. The Newars produce sweets from milk fudge (Khuwa) in time to time. The farmers also sell grapefruit (Bhogate) chayote (Skush), sponge gourd, cauliflower, cabbage and mustard (rayo) along with other products so they can live happily. The potato and rice supplied from Sankhu make the people be rich there. The women of Sankhu locality weave sweaters of Thamel market in order of businessmen so they earn sufficiently. There are also oil mills and chyura mills in Sankhu which are the sources of extra income. Newars are very clever at business, whoever wherever they live they do some income generating activities. The people of Sankhu are also business holders so their status in society is good.
4) Precise
Anyway the people of Sankhu are friendly co-operative and diligent. They always share and care among each other. Chyatona, Bajinedunala, Jajolapa, Taremam Sharan etc are the words to socialize at Sankhu. Some people who do politics are selfish but most of them are kind-hearted also so I love Sankhu as I love my birth place. Motherland motherland are greater.
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