Editing Newar language (section)

== Literature ==

{{Main|Newari literature}}
[[File:Poem written in Newar by Briddhi Lakshmi.svg|thumb|''ka kha yā mye'' ("a song of [[Ka (Indic)|''ka'']] and [[Kha (Indic)|''kha'']]"), a Newar language poem written by [[Briddhi Lakshmi|Briddhi Lakhmi]], the queen consort of [[Bhaktapur]].{{Sfn|Tuladhar|2000|p=64}}]]
[[File:Grahas (Seizers), Six Folios From a Book of Charms LACMA M.82.169.11.jpg|thumb|A folio from a Book of Charms written in the [[Bhujimol script]] from the 16th century. ]]
Newar literature has a long history. It has one of the oldest literatures of the [[Sino-Tibetan languages]] (together with Chinese, Tibetan, Tangut, Burmese, Yi, etc.)

=== Drama ===
[[Drama]]s are traditionally performed in open Dabu (stage). Most of the traditional dramas are tales related to deities and demons. Masked characters and music are central elements to such dramas. Most of them are narrated with the help of songs sung at intervals. Such dramas resemble dance in many cases. The theme of most dramas is the creation of a social well-being with morals illustrating the rise, turbulence, and fall of evil. There is fixed dates in the [[Nepal Sambat]] (Nepal Era) calendar for the performance of specific drama. Most of the dramas are performed by specific [[Guthi]]s.

=== Poetry ===
[[Poetry]] writing constituted a splendid part of medieval Malla aristocracy. Many of the kings were well-renowned poets. [[Siddhidas Mahaju]] and [[Chittadhar Hridaya]] are two great poets in the language.

=== Prose fiction ===
Prose [[fiction]] in Newar is a relatively new field of literature compared to other fields. Most fiction was written in poetry form until the medieval era. Consequently, almost all prose fiction belongs to the modern Newar era. Collections of short stories in Newar are more popular than novels.

=== Story ===
The art of verbal [[folklore|story]]telling is very old in Newar. There are a variety of mythical and social stories that have aided in establishing the norm of Kathmandu valley. Stories ranging from the origin of Kathmandu valley to the temples of the valley and the important monuments have been passed down verbally in Newar and very few exist in written form. However, with an increase in the literacy rate and an awareness among the people, folklore stories are being written down. Stories on other topics are also becoming popular.