| Mha Pujā | |
|---|---|
 Sketch of Nepalese Mha Pujā Mandala | |
| Observed by | Nepalese Hindus and Buddhists |
| Type | Religious |
| Significance | Spiritual purification for new year |
| Celebrations | Mandala worship, ritual gifts presentation, feast |
| Date | Kachhala New Moon |
Mha Pujā (Newar Script: 𑐴𑑂𑐩𑐥𑐸𑐖𑐵) (Devanagari: म्हपुजा) is an annual ritual performed by the Newar people of Nepal to purify and empower the soul as part of New Year celebrations. It is performed on New Year's Day of Nepal Sambat, the national lunar calendar of Nepal, which occurs during the Swanti festival.[2]
Mha Puja means "worship of the self" in Newari, and it celebrates the spirit within oneself. The ceremony signifies an auspicious beginning of the New Year, and invokes prosperity and longevity for the participant.[3][4] Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat are also celebrated abroad where Nepalese have settled.[5]
- ^ "Mha Puja".
- ^ Dhaubhadel, Manoranjan N. (17 November 2012). "Mha Puja -- A Unique Newah Tradition" (PDF). NOA-FL Newsletter. NOA Florida Chapter. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ^ Maharjan, Ujjwala (5 November 2010). "Cultural symbolisms in Mha Puja". Republica. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- ^ "Mha Puja today, Nepal Sambat 1132 being observed". Ekantipur. 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- ^ "Mha Puja 2012 & New Year Nepal Samvat 1133 Celebration". Pasa Puchah Guthi UK. 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.