Newa manuscripts digitized and made public online

More than 30 rare Newa manuscripts, dating between 200 and 800 years old, have been digitized and made available online. The project was a collaboration between Archive Nepal and UNESCO under the Memory of the World Framework, with funding provided by the Government of Japan.

The initiative involved over 50 volunteers working across four sites in the Kathmandu Valley, including community temples and private collections in Patan. The manuscripts have been converted into open-access, machine-readable digital records and are accessible through Wikisource.

During the project, volunteers worked with ancestral scripts such as Ranjana, Bhujimol, and Prachalit. The initiative concluded with a closing event in Kathmandu featuring a physical exhibition, panel discussions, and a live transcription showcase to highlight the importance of preserving both written records and the knowledge they contain.