The main focus of the project was to digitise rare medieval Sanskrit manuscripts, related to Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as secular topics, in Newar communities, as well as to rescue those threatened by the earthquake of 2015. In total the project were able to digitise 687 manuscripts.
Newar people living in small medieval towns have contributed enormously to the development of literary culture in Nepal, with manuscript culture being a part of Newar religious lives. After completion of the earlier pilot project EAP676, the team continued the work surveying manuscripts in Newār settlements and also Vihāra collections in Newar communities where manuscript culture still exists. The main focus of the project was to digitise rare medieval Sanskrit manuscripts as well as rescue those threatened by the earthquake of 2015. In total the project were able to digitise 21 separate collections consisting of 687 manuscripts and 28050 folios. These included religious manuscripts related to Buddhism and Hinduism, literary works, medical texts, records of events, and other secular texts. These are important records for Buddhist and Hindu Newars to perform religious duties and also for scholars of Newar Buddhism, Vajrayana rituals, Hinduism, the Vajracharya priests and practitioners and others.
