Gai Puja or worship of cow, Goru Puja or ox worship and Mha Puja or worship of the self was observed throughout the country on Thursday, the fourth day of the five-day-long Tihar festival. 

The Gai Puja and Govardhan Puja rituals are observed today by Hindus with the replicas of the Gai and Govardhan Mountain made out of the cow dung. People prepare a mixture of the cow dung and ochre formed into a paste and apply on the courtyard of their homes and on the floors. 

The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Sri Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan Mountain by his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by Indra, the God of rain. 

It is believed that the rain God was angered and thereby caused the heavy downpour. 

Similarly, the ox was also worshipped today as it is a very useful animal in different agricultural works in Nepal which is a predominantly agricultural country. 

Likewise, the people of the Newar community observed the Mha Puja ritual in the evening today. Mha Puja is the worship of the self. 

Mha Puja is based on the religious belief that the soul or self is the most important in the world and that if the soul is satisfied, the gods are also satisfied and one's life becomes meaningful and prosperous. 

Nepal Sambat 1136 begins 

A new year of the Nepal Sambat, an indigenous calendar of Nepal- 1136 began on Thursday. 

The Nepal Sambat or calendar year was begun by Shankhadhar Sakhwa by relieving the people of Nepal off debt during the rule of Lichchhavi King Raghavdev. 

Recognizing the contribution of Shankhadhar Sakhwa to the country and people, the government led by then Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had announced Sakhwa a national luminary on November 18, 1999. 

Likewise, the Council of Ministers chaired by first Prime Minister of Republic of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal had on October 23, 2008 nationally recognized the Nepal Sambat propounded by national luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa. RSS