INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 2Gai Puja or cow worship, Goru Puja or ox worship and Govardan Puja are being observed throughout the country today on
the fourth day of the five-day-long Tihar festival celebrated by the majority Hindus in the country.Bhai Tika being observed today; 11:37 am
auspious time for tikaLaxmi Puja, Kukur Tihar being observed todayThe Gai Puja and Govardhan Puja rituals are observed today with the
replicas of the Gai and Govardhan Mountain made out of the cow dung
People prepare a mixture of the cow dung and ochre formed into a paste and apply on the courtyard of their homes and on the floors.The cow
is revered as mata or mother by Hindus and is sacred for them
Modern science has also proved that indigenous breeds of cows absorb the energy from the sun and the moon in their hump which is transmitted
through milk to humans.The cows are fed with sweets and delicacies as part of the Gai Puja rituals
There is the tradition of tying the sacred thread that is tied around one's wrist on the occasion of the Janai Poornima festival on the tail
of the cow while performing Gai Puja
It is believed that doing so the cow would help the person's soul cross the Baitarani River, a mythical river, to heaven, after the person's
death.The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Sri Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan Mountain by his hand and
protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by Indra, the God of rain.It is believed that the rain God was
angered and thereby caused the heavy downpour.Similarly, the ox is also worshipped today as it is a very useful animal in different
agricultural works in Nepal which is a predominantly agricultural country
RSSNepal Sambat New Year 1145 and Mha Puja todayThe Nepal Sambat New Year 1145 is being celebrated across the country today amidst various
programmes.The people of the Newar community have been celebrating the Nepal Sambat as New Year's Day at present
The Nepal Sambat is an indigenous calendar of Nepal.The Nepal Sambat or calendar year was begun by Shankhadhar Sakhwa by relieving the
people of Nepal off debt during the rule of Lichchhavi King Raghavdev in 880 AD.Recognizing the contribution of Shankhadhar Sakhwa to the
country and people, the government announced Sakhwa a national luminary on November 18, 1999.Also today, the people of the Newar community
observe the Mha Puja ritual in the evening
Mha Puja is the worship of the self.Mha Puja is based on the religious belief that the soul or self is the most important in the world and
that if the soul is satisfied, the gods are also satisfied and one's life becomes meaningful and prosperous.Likewise, the government had on
October 23, 2008 nationally recognized the Nepal Sambat propounded by national luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa.Meanwhile, the President and the
Vice-President, the Prime Minister as well as various party heads and leaders have issued statements extending best wishes to all those
celebrating the Nepal Sambat today.This day is celebrated especially as the new year of Nepal Sambat and as a special festival by the
majority Newar population residing in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bahrabise and Dolakha.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com