Newar Buddhists are required to be members of their respective vihar according to religious rules. They perform their duties of religious and cultural programs from time to time including shouldering guardianship for certain period. As per social structure of Newar Buddhists, members have kept their tradition of respecting their elders in all vihars. Elders in Lalitpur are respected as 'Aaju' in Newari language while the same is called 'Thayepa' in Kathmandu. All vihars of Kathmandu valley function under the guidance and leadership of a team of such 'Aaju' or 'Thayepa'. Carrying out of daily pooja, various other pooja at specific times following lunar calendar and observing various rites and rituals of important life events of its members are activities performed in vihars. So it would not be wrong to say that every walk of life of Newar Buddhists are tied up with such vihars.

Realizing this important role of vihar amongst Newar Buddhists of Lalitpur, as stated earlier, an organization with the objectives of improving their social and religious activities was formed with the name 'Bouddha Samaj Sudhar Samiti' in Nov 1975. Its initial thirty members were derived from the representations of prominent 15 baha and 15 bahi of Lalitpur. Mr. Harsh Ratna Dhakhwa was the pioneer in this aspect and he headed this organization. At that time, Newar society was witnessing an uncomfortable and pompous observance of socio-re-ligious culture. So, the postulation of rules of reforms in this direction put forward by this organization was very timely and well accepted by the community. Even Nepal government recognized these reformed rules of social behavior and made a royal proclamation of some of its contents to be obeyed by all wherever applicable. Besides, bringing impact on social norms of observing social and religious activities, this organization was remarkably successful in bringing coherence among various vihars and engaging in several Buddhism promotion activities.

A new turn in this organization came in 1990. The official venue of this organization was shifted from Kwa baha (Hiranyavarna Mahavihar) to Pucho Vihar (Aksheshwor Mahavihar) located in Pulchowk in 13 November 1990 (27 Kartik 2047) and its name too was changed to 'Bouddha Vihar Sangh, Lalitpur' giving it a status of association. Mr. Buddhi Raj Vajracharya, who happened to the Mayor of Lalitpur City for many years and Minister for Tourism and Culture, had been the pioneer in this matter. Subsequently, some changes in objectives were also made in this newly formulated Association. The objectives thus kept were

1. 1. To promote and preserve vihars of Lalitpur
2. 2. To promote Buddhism
3. 3. To encourage youths to follow the path shown by Buddha Shakyamuni.