Mha Puja being observed today

Kathmandu: The Mha Puja (self-worship) is celebrated on the fourth day of the Tihar festival by the Newar community today.

It also falls on the Newari New Year, which is based on the Newar calendar, Nepal Sambat. Mha Puja literally refers to self-worship, making offerings to one’s body.

Theologian Prof Dr Ramchandra Gautam said the atma (soul) is the powerful aspect of a human being, so it deserves reverence. It is a religious belief that one becomes happy once his/her atma (soul/self) is happy, he added.

New Year 1146 is being observed with fanfare across the country. The Newari calendar is marked in memory of Sankhadhar Sakhwa, who freed the poor and peasants from financial burden- loan.