Rajkarnikar

The Rajkarnikar are a Newar clan, the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, including Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, its sister city, Lalitpur, Patan, and Bhaktapur. The Rajkarnikar clan are also called halwais or palma halwais. The traditional Rajkarnikar occupation is making candy and sweet confections, known as "mithai". Although slowly declining in number, hundreds of Rajkarnikar sweet shops, or mithai pasals, can still be found in the Kathmandu Valley and in other cities and towns with established Newar communities.

Nowadays, Rajkarnikars are found in many places out of the valley as well. It has been found that some families of Dharan and surrounding areas write Halwai in their castes even though they are Rajkarnikars. There is an active Rajkarnikar Society that is located at Hastinagal Mahabihar at Mangalbazaar, Lalitpur.

Some of the popular sweets from mithai pasals are Jeri, Swari, Puri, Rasbari, Peda, Burfi, Laddoo, Lal Mohan, Lakhamari, Malpuwa, Halwa, etc. Sweets from mithai pasals are especially popular treats during festivals and weddings in Nepal.