Newar community celebrates Nepal sambat 1147 and self worship rituals

The Newar community in Nepal is celebrating the start of Nepal Sambat 1147, a traditional calendar system, alongside the performance of Mha Puja, a ritual of self worship.

The Newar people observe Nepal Sambat as their New Year. This calendar system originated during the reign of King Raghavadeva of the Licchavi dynasty. Historically, it served as the national calendar until the reign of Prithvi Narayan Shah.

In 880 AD, the national hero Shankhadhar Sakhwa initiated the calendar by forgiving the debts of poor people. Following the establishment of democracy in 2007, campaigns began to secure national recognition for the calendar, which the government eventually granted in 2065. The New Year celebrations take place in areas with high Newar populations, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bahrabise, and Bhimeshwor in Dolakha. During the festivities, people in Kathmandu close old account books and open new ones.

As part of the New Year, the community performs Mha Puja to worship the soul. Religious scholar Ramachandra Gautam says this ritual honors the soul as the most important part of a human being, believing that a satisfied soul ensures divine blessings and a meaningful life.