What is "chitrakar"

Chitrakar ( Devanagari: चित्रकार) is a caste within the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The Newar caste system is divided according to profession. Accordingly, Chitrakars were painters and mask makers. According to the Newar Caste System, Chitrakars fall in the lower rung of the caste hierarchy. In Nepal Bhasa, this caste is called "Pun" (पुं) or "Puna". The literal translation of the word Chitrakar from Sanskrit is image maker where "Chitr" in Sanskrit means an image, and "akar" the maker.