Kathmandu: Nepal is celebrating several significant festivals today, including Gai Puja (cow worship), Goru Puja (ox worship), and Govardhan Puja as part of the five-day Tihar festival. Alongside, the Newar community observes Mha Puja and welcomes Nepal Sambat New Year 1145, marking a day rich in cultural and spiritual observance across the nation.

Gai Puja and Govardhan Puja Observances

On the fourth day of Tihar, Hindus across Nepal observe Gai Puja, venerating the cow as a sacred mother figure. During the ritual, people prepare a mixture of cow dung and ochre and apply it to courtyards and floors as a blessing. The sacred cow is adorned and fed sweets and other offerings. A symbolic tradition tied to Gai Puja involves tying a sacred thread, previously tied during Janai Poornima, to the cow’s tail, believed to assist souls in crossing the mythical Baitarani River to reach heaven.

Govardhan Puja commemorates the legend of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Mountain to shield the people of Gokul from a storm sent by the rain god, Indra. In honor of this, devotees create small replicas of the mountain with cow dung as part of the worship.

Goru Puja, or ox worship, is also observed today, honoring the ox for its essential role in agriculture, especially in Nepal’s predominantly agrarian society.

Celebration of Nepal Sambat New Year 1145 and Mha Puja

Today marks the start of the Nepal Sambat New Year 1145, celebrated as New Year’s Day by the Newar community. Nepal Sambat, an indigenous calendar, was established in 880 AD by Shankhadhar Sakhwa, who paid off the debts of the people under the rule of Lichchhavi King Raghavdev. In recognition of his contributions, Shankhadhar Sakhwa was named a national luminary in 1999, and Nepal Sambat was formally recognized as a national calendar in 2008.

In the evening, Newars observe Mha Puja, or self-worship, a ritual that honors and purifies the soul, believed to bring prosperity and meaning to life. Mha Puja signifies the importance of self-respect and inner strength within the individual.

Prominent leaders, including the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister, have extended greetings to the people, recognizing the importance of Nepal Sambat and the cultural richness it represents. These celebrations are especially vibrant in Newar-majority areas such as Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and other parts of the Kathmandu Valley.

Today’s observances highlight the harmony of diverse cultural and religious practices in Nepal, uniting the nation in vibrant celebration and reverence.