Mha Puja
| Mha Pujā | |
|---|---|
Sketch of Nepalese Mha Pujā Mandala | |
| Observed by | Nepalese Hindus and Buddhists |
| Type | Religious |
| Significance | Spiritual purification for new year |
| Celebrations | Mandala worship, ritual gifts presentation, feast |
| Date | Kachhala New Moon |
Mha Pujā (Newar Script: 𑐴𑑂𑐩𑐥𑐸𑐖𑐵) (Devanagari: म्हपुजा) is an annual ritual performed by the Newar people of Nepal to purify and empower the soul as part of New Year celebrations. It is performed on New Year's Day of Nepal Sambat, the national lunar calendar of Nepal, which occurs during the Swanti festival.
Mha Puja means "worship of the self" in Newari, and it celebrates the spirit within oneself. The ceremony signifies an auspicious beginning of the New Year, and invokes prosperity and longevity for the participant. Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat are also celebrated abroad where Nepalese have settled.