People from the Newa community on Wednesday marked Nepal Sambat 1143, the new year of the Newa calender, and Mha Pooja—worship of the self.

The Newa community marks the Nepal Sambat new year, in the morning and Mha Puja in the evening. Mha Puja falls on the first day of Nepal Sambat year.

The National Luminary, Shankhadhar Sakhwa is credited with initiating the Nepal Sambat in 880 AD by freeing the poor from their debt during the reign of the Lichhavi dynasty king Raghav Dev. 

Main priest of Taleju temple Siddhibir Karmacharya said that Mha Puja should be observed today itself as per the tradition adding that there is some confusion about the celebration in Bhaktapur.

Mha Pula literally means self-worship. People of the Newa community mark this on the fourth night of Tihar, Kartik Shukla Pratipada, by worshiping self with a hope that light of knowledge shall spread after the destruction of ignorance.

On this day, sweet dishes are prepared at home and mandalas (sacred diagrams as a symbol of their soul) are drawn on the floor and worshipped. Family members sit in front of the mandalas and the lady of the house presents each of them with a burning wick, sacred thread Jajanka and fruits symbolising long life and good fortune.

Historian Prof Dr Purushottam Lochan Shrestha said Mha Puja, an ancient festival of the Newa community, is the symbol of knowledge to know self and spread knowledge in the world; and a symbol of prosperity.

However, culture expert Om Dhaubhadel said that there is no evidence to confirm when exactly this festival was started but added that the Newa community has been observing this festival since the Lichchhivi era.