Socio-cultural significance of guthi system of newar community

1. Socio-Cultural Significance of Guthi
system in Newar community (Kirtipur)
Roji Maharjan
Thesis Guide Sr. Stella Davis
St.Xavier’s College, Maitighar
Kathmandu University
June 2016

2. Introduction
 "The term “Guthi” was derived from the Sanskrit word
“Gosthi”, and literally means gathering of people.
 An association formed by groups of people based on
kinship, caste or territorial aspects for the establishment
and maintenance of religious and cultural functions .
 Guthi are compulsory whereas some are purely optional
 Inherited by birth
 'common trust' consisting mainly of cultivated lands as
assets."
 The main objective of the Guthi is to do welfare of the
people by undertaking a religious
 Board Members: Guthiyars and Head Thakali

3.  It was noticeably since the Licchavi period [5th
-9thcentury CE]
 All the scholars whoever have studied newars has included guth
in their study.
 Collective group of people that ties bond
 Establish, renovates temples, chariots, Bihar, roads, ponds etc.
 Conducts all Jatras and Festivals
 Sanatan Guthi (Death Guthi) most important guthi that performs
Death rituals.
 Guthi Sanstha (1964) incorporates all the Guthis of Nepal
 Types of guthi, Religious guthi, Service-oriented Guthi
Communal Guthi, Entertainment oriented Guthi

4. Objectives of research
 To find out the functions of Guthi system.
 To know about development activities being conducted by the Guthi
at present context to preserve culture.
 To study socio-cultural importance of guthi in today’s present
society
 Research question
 “What is the socio-cultural importance of guthi system in today’s
society?”
 How do people perceive Guthi System?
 Different development activities conducted by Guthi System?

5. Rationale of the study
 The culture of Kirtipur is unique and very few studies have
been done in guthi of Kirtipur specifically.
 Guthi is integral part of society that binds newars and their
culture, it is still actively prevailing but due to some factors
its importance has been degrading compare to before.
 It alerts people to preserve traditional social living
institution of Nepal

6. Statement of the problem
 Guthi formed for Nobel purpose today are weakening due
to modern institution and technology
 Newar culture and its guthi is rich in culture and tradition
but newar youths are lacking knowledge about guthi.

7. Limitation
 Time limitation
 Excessive number of Guthi
 Little specific information about Guthis of
Kirtipur

8. Research Methodology
 Research Design
Descriptive research collected data through primary data
collection interview and also used secondary data to frame
context and relevance of the study.
 Area of the study
This study focuses on kirtipur, kathmandu
 The Universe and the sample
The universe/population of research is the newars of
Kirtipur area. Who are and were part of Guthi system. In
this study the researcher collected 51 samples from newars
of Kirtipur.

9.  Data Collection
The data collected for the research were both quantitative as
well as qualitative in nature.
Primary Source of data collection was questionnaire with
36 open and close ended and interview.
Secondary source of data collection was books and journal.
 Scope of the study
it has been conducting various rituals and programs but due
to its traditional aspects people are seen little interested
though they are part of the guthi. Data of this research
will demonstrate importance of guthi system in newars
community of Kirtipur.

10. Major Findings
 54 percent of respondent were jyapu
(Fig 1)
 Fig 2 shows 71 percent respondent
belongs to communal guthi, 13
percent belongs to entertainment at 10
percent in religious guthi where as 6
percent belongs to private guthi
respectively.
 Fig 3. shows 54 percent respondent
stated all of the above for the purpose
of guthi
 61 percent respondent stated
guthi as important. 31 percent
respond guthi as very important,
8 important percent stated as not
so and no respondent stated as not
needed.
Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3

11. Fig 4
Fig 4 shows that guthi members does
not need to participate in all the
activities every time.
Fig 5 shows 66 percent take guthi as
compulsion and 2 percent respondent
take it as flexible
 The major guthis of kirtipur Dharmik
guthi, Samajik guthi, Samuhik guthi
and sanskritik guthi
Fig 5

12. Social significance of guthi system
Cultural significance of guthi system
Fig 6
Fig 7

13. Fig 7 Development activities conducted by guthiEconomic source of guthi.
Fig 8

14. •Fig 9 shows that ,Though
people do not have clear
idea about roles of guthi
they have desire to maintain
and preserve it
Fig 10 shows that Guthi is
an institution that is fully
supported by Nepal
government but these days
has shown less interest
compare to previous
decades.
Fig 10
Fig 9

15. Conclusion
 In Kirtipur there are various guthi that performs different
activities. Guthis are separated to conduct activities that are
minute to major. There are guthi who does minor work like
maintain of water pipe, bridge, rest houses and major works like
conducting funeral rites, festivals, Jatras, making of temples,
strict religious activities ,roads and utilization of guthi land for
economic purpose.
 At present there are four types of guthi seen in Kirtipur
according to its function those concerned with the maintenance
of particular shrines of temple, those for the worship for
conducting funeral ceremonies.

16. Recommendation
 Micro Level
Awareness to youth
Individual benefit
Accountability of money
 Mezzo Level
Include all generation during festivals
Preserve and protect property of guthi
Should not hamper primary work of individual
Should not pressurize in economy
Rules should be valid according to need
 Macro Level
Support from government
Guthi land rules and act