Ink, identity and afterlife

Traditional Newa tattoos, an important part of Newa identity, became popular in the early 1900s and are still in vogue today as young tattoo artists mix traditional styles with modern motifs.

Tattooing on the hands and legs has been a tradition passed down through generations. Even today, many elderly people, especially women, still bear these traditional tattoos. Sanjay Khadgi, a tattoo artist and owner of Swastik Tattoo Studio, who also wrote a thesis on the ‘History of Tattoos and Their Status in Nepal’, shared that Chiri Bhai Nepali was among the first to introduce Newa traditional tattoos in the 1930s.