Kathmandu, Nov 10: Nepal Sambat 1147 is being celebrated across the country today with various programmes. On the occasion, the Newar community is marking Nepal Sambat as its New Year and performing Mha Puja, or the worship of the self.
The Newar community has traditionally celebrated Nepal Sambat as its New Year. Historical records state that national luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa introduced Nepal Sambat in 880 AD (937 BS) after freeing people from their debts. Nepal Sambat enjoyed recognition as the national calendar until the reign of King Prithvi Narayan Shah.
Introduced during the reign of Lichchhavi-era King Raghavdev, Nepal Sambat is an indigenous calendar of Nepal. Historical accounts mention that the Shak era was in use before the Lichchhavi period.
A campaign to secure national recognition for the calendar, named after Nepal, has been underway since the establishment of democracy in 1951.
The New Year is celebrated with particular enthusiasm in areas with large Newar populations, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Barhabise and Bhimsen (Bhimeshwar) in Dolakha.
Recognising Sakhwa’s contribution to social service through debt relief for poor people and his role in introducing an indigenous calendar, the then Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai declared him a national luminary in 1999.
In 2008, then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced that Nepal Sambat would receive national recognition.
In Kathmandu, a tradition of closing old account books on Kartik Krishna Aunsi (the new moon day) and opening new ones on Kartik Shukla Pratipada (the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik), marking the New Year, also continues.
Mha Puja: Worship of the Self
On the occasion of the Nepal Sambat New Year, the Newar community is also observing Mha Puja today.
Religious scholar Prof. Dr Ramchandra Gautam says the tradition of worshipping oneself is rooted in the belief that the human soul is the greatest and most important element of an individual.
He said religious belief holds that keeping the soul content and satisfied brings the blessings of gods and goddesses and makes human life meaningful.
This year, the Pratipada lunar date falls on both Monday and today, leading to differences in the dates for celebrating the Nepal Sambat New Year and observing Mha Puja in some places.
Some communities celebrated the Nepal Sambat New Year on Monday, while certain groups within the Newar community are observing Mha Puja today.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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