The Arts pervade almost all key aspects of life for UK Nepali community members, in daily living, in the home, in Nepali culture related purchases (such as clothes or scared Murti [statuary] of Nepali Hinduism or Nepali Buddhism (such as the Vajra Newar Buddhist tradition, Swayambhunath complex in northern Kathmandu: image source – Tom Pouncy)  in their multiple forms, through to food and drink vessels and utensils, through to paintings both secular and sacred, and woodwork [the example above left of Newari medieval era woodwork in the Kathmandu Valley]: image source, also from Tom Pouncy). 

Still more so is the case for Nepali societies (Samaj) and of course UK Nepali performing artists.  Here from guidance from community members across Southern England major and minor Nepali communities we provide some of the main areas of arts involvement in life and living.  

At the end of this section we provide an arts related glossary, as this is an ideal starting point for exploring the incredibly rewarding journey of engaging with Nepali arts related culture.

This main section of the Nepali arts component covers major art forms that contribute to UK Nepali identity and living. 

The section concludes on visual arts, with interviews with two internationally renowned UK-based painters, Govinda Sah ‘Azad,’ and Subash Thebe, and details on a UK art student who through contribution to a large-scale Nepali arts project at a major South of England College, who as a result of participation in the project subsequently went to Nepal to learn more directly about Nepali arts as part of Nepal’s vibrant culture (this includes a video interview).