Mha Puja: A celebration of self in Newari culture

BY SUSHMA MAHARJAN

Kathmandu, Oct. 30:The Newar community celebrates Mha Puja with reverence, marking the start of the Nepal Sambat New Year on Kartik Sukla Pratipada, a tradition tracing back over 1,500 years to the Licchavi era. 

This unique ritual, translating to ‘worship of the self,’ is a day dedicated to self-purification, reflection and receiving blessings from the clan deity for health and prosperity in the coming year. Unlike other ceremonies often led by the family head, Mha Puja emphasises individual worship and personal connection with the divine.

According to Naresh Bir Shakya, a Language and Culture advocate, Mha Puja is the main day of the three-day ‘Swonti’ festival, meaning three days which is popularly known as ‘Tihar’ among non-Newars. He explains, unlike other communities Newars observes distinct rituals during Swanti. 

“The first day of ‘Laxmi Puja’ is the end of the year; we do the closing and submit the accounts to the Goddess Laxmi and worship her and seek blessings,” he said. “The second day is a New Year. On the day, we worship own self to be powerful, healthy and self-reliant. That is followed by the Kija Puja, where sisters worship their brothers.”

Shakya emphasises that Newari culture celebrates both the tangible and intangible supports in life, with the belief that such items, through reverent use, empower individuals to remain strong, self-reliant and resourceful throughout the year. Therefore, on the occasion of the beginning of the year, during Mha Puja, Newars also worship everyday items that make life easier, from brooms to ‘gha’ (water vessel), ‘hasa’ (woven bamboo trays used for winnowing grains), mortar and pestle and stove.

Shakya also explains how Mha Puja aligns with other Newari rituals, like the Dashain festival, where tools and equipment essential for livelihood are worshipped. By recognising the value of these items, Newars ensure that the strength and positive energy of the objects at their homes continue to support them.

Rajendra Manandhar, a 47-year-old resident of Kilagal, shared that his family's Mha Puja traditions centre around family connection and renewal. The day begins with a purifying bath to welcome the New Year, followed by Mha Puja in the evening. “We gather, sitting in rows on the basis of age. The rituals begin by creating mandap for each individual and two additional mandap, one at the beginning and at the end. The first in the name of clan deity and later for Yamaraj’s guardians,” he said. “We begin the puja by worshiping the mandap first and worshiping oneself for healthy life throughout the year, ending up with family feast.” 

Dr. Rajan Lal Joshi, Head and Associate Professor at the Central Department of Nepal Bhasa, explains that Mha Puja draws upon the five elements that constitute the human body and the universe. Mandaps are crafted with five ingredients, five colours and five fruits, symbolizing five elements. 

An interesting aspect of the ritual, Joshi adds, is the inclusion of all parts of life, living and non-living, that support one's livelihood, such as household items animal sheds or even bird nests around the home. 

This act of reverence is believed to maintain the balance of elements in our body and strengthen one's connection to the divine, ensuring that they stay fit and healthy to fully benefit from the blessings.

Additionally, to further the spirit of Mha Puja, the Newar community organises a cultural rally - Bhintuna Rally-, where people gather to celebrate their shared heritage and offer blessings for the New Year. Such event once introduced by the Nepal Bhasa Manka Khala is now widely popularised by many organisations and communities. As the community gathers for this cultural rally, people wear beautiful traditional haku patasi attire, filling the streets with colour, joy and a shared sense of heritage hooting ‘Nhu dan ya Bhintuna!’ (Happy New Year!) as they march through the streets.