‘Newa Muslims’ embrace Kathmandu’s culture yet expect more reforms to strengthen harmony

With merriment in their hearts, Muslims in Nepal are flocking to the mosques and greeting each other with Eid Mubarak. Eid al-Fitr , being celebrated across the world over this weekend, is a great celebration for the community to commemorate the end of their month-long fasting ritual of Ramadan . There is a great fervour among the Newa Muslim community of Kathmandu too.

While details about the religious distribution of Nepal’s population as of the 2021 census are still awaited, it is generally believed that Muslims in Nepal make up around five per cent of the country’s population. Anyone who has been to Pote Bazaar in the east of Indrachok or the Ratnapark area of Kathmandu easily encounters the members of the Muslim community, locally known as Newa Muslims .