Nepal Sambat New Year 1145 Brings Joy to Nepalese Portlanders
By Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Nov 3 (Nepal Oregon News): A group Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat New Year 1145 was observed in Portland, USA on Saturday Nov 2, 2024 by Nepa Chhen, a non-profit committed to enrich and enhance Nepalese arts, culture and traditions in the US.
According to Pramod Karanjit, secretary of Nepa Chhen, 95 Mha Puja Mandalas were drawn on the floor for each participant. Cheerful Nepalese Portlanders were seen sitting cross-legged in front of their respective Mandalas.
The Nepalese gentlemen were seen wearing 'Daura Suruwal' and 'Sakkali Dhaka Ya Tapuli' while the Nepalese ladies were dressed up in Haku Patasi and other sarees.
Most of the cultural and ritual procedures were followed while performing the collective Mha Puja ceremony which took place at Nekusing Memorial Theater, US World Class Taekwondo Hollywood in Portland.
All the Mha Puja participants were given a dab of colored paste 'Sinha' on their foreheads, provided sacred thread 'Kokha' and a bag of Masala Pwo' and fruits.
Then, the Nepalese Portlanders were presented egg, fish and wine which was poured down from a Newah-style 'Anti'. After that, a traditional Newar feast 'Bhoye' was served.
The Nepalese Portlanders were seen wishing each other Happy Mha Puja and Nhu Dan Ya Bhintuna.
Mha Puja celebration in Portland, USA is also a sure way to enliven and enhance the Newah traditions and customs, demonstrating the aspirations of the Nepalese Portlanders to keep up the Newah traditions alive.
There is no doubt that Mha Puja is a quintessential part of rich Newar culture. It is an interesting coincidence that Mha Puja, a part of Swanti Nakha, is performed to purify mind, body and spirit, and this cultural ritual is annually held on the day of new year celebration of Nepal Sambat.
It is to be noted that Nepal Sambat -- a national lunar calendar of Nepal -- kicked off in 879 AD during the rule of King Raghav Dev to commemorate the reimbursement of all debts of the people by a Newah trader Shankhadhar Sakhwa who was declared a national hero (Vibhuti) of Nepal on Nov 18, 1999 by the then His Majesty's Government of Nepal.
