Nepal Sambat 1147 Starts

Today, the Newar community living in and out of the Kathmandu Valley celebrates the new year (Nepal Sambat) i.e. "Nhudanya Bhintuna" (exchange of New Year greetings) and develops ethnic unity and ancestral common culture. This Samvat, especially considered by the Newar community, is also a fundamental Samvat of Nepal.

Nepal Samvat is the epoch run by national luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa by freeing the people across the country from debt. On this occasion, Bhintuna rallies are being held all over the country and abroad saying 'Nhudanya Bhintuna'.

Nepal Samvat is based on the lunar month. The first day of Nepal Samvat falls on the day of Kartik Shukla Paksha of Bikram Samvat.

There is a history of Nepal Samvat in government offices from the time of King Raghav Dev of Bhaktapur to the time of Chandra Shamsher. In this Samvat a month is measured between one no moon day (Aaunshi) to another Aaunshi and in this Samvat a year of 354 days falls.

According to the Nepal Samvat, the months are called Kachla, Thinla, Ponhela, Silla, Chilla, Chwala, Banchala, Tanthala, Della, Gunla, Nala, and Kaula respectively. The Government of Nepal has also given official recognition to this Samvat. In the Newari community, this samvat is widely used and measured.

Welcome to the month of Kachla of Nepal 1147.

Gobardan Puja

It is also mentioned that Indra today regretted his behavior and apologized to Lord Krishna. Today, the same Gobardhana mountain that Sri Krishna lifted with his finger is worshiped. Thus, while worshiping Gobardhan mountain, it has been customary to worship the Gobar as a symbol of Gobardhan mountain.

Today is Gobardhan Puja, Gobar means the holy cow dung so today Sanatan people acknowledge the importance of the mother cow. Crows, dogs, cows, and other animals involved in ancient agricultural work are hugely acknowledged in Yamapanchak days. Gobardhan Puja reminds us of the importance placed on our agricultural life by animals.

It is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita that Lord Krishna lifted the Gobardhan mountain with his little finger to save the people of Dwarika from the catastrophe caused by the incessant rains that fell in Gokul due to the wrath of King Indra of heaven.

Goru Puja

Today cows, oxen, traditional wooden plows (Hali or halo), and other agricultural implements are worshiped. With the onset of winter in the agricultural doors of Nepal, it is customary to take out the tools such as plows, and spades that have been kept after the rainy season for worship. Hali means plow, so this Tihar is called Hali Tihar, we worship agricultural tools on this day.Another big highlight of the day is Deusi. Yesterday's Bhaile's Vaka and today Deunse's Vaka.

Deunse

Deunse is a prehistoric storytelling and singing tradition, where a group of people visits a neighbor's doorstep, courtyard, and organizes a musical and lyrical event for a short time. This is a traditional way of storytelling, those Deunse narrates several stories of ancient King Bali and other ancient pauranik characters. Later Deunse receives foods, grains, money, and thanks from the house owner, the ceremony ends with the flow of best wishes and blessings to the house owner, family, and society.

Mha Puja

Meaning of "Mha"

In the Newari community today, it is customary to celebrate Mha puja and value self-existence. In the Newari language, there is a predominance of small words like Mha, Mha means self,, and puja is worship, so today is respecting self and acknowledging the preciousness of life.

Sometimes, I feel that this is one of the most scientific and social cultures, as today Newa people take time to value self and re-realize the value of living.

Today, the Newar community living in and out of the Kathmandu Valley celebrates the new year (Nepal Sambat) i.e. "Nhudanya Bhintuna" (exchange of New Year greetings) and develops ethnic unity and ancestral common culture. This Samvat, especially considered by the Newar community, is also a fundamental Samvat of Nepal.

Nepal Samvat is the epoch run by national luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa by freeing the people across the country from debt. On this occasion, Bhintuna rallies are being held all over the country and abroad saying 'Nhudanya Bhintuna'.

Hali Tihar

Today is the day when cows, oxen, ploughs, and other agricultural tools are worshipped. In Nepal’s agrarian households, with the beginning of winter, it is customary to take out the ploughs, spades, sickles, and other tools that were stored away during the rainy season and worship them today. For this reason, the day is also called Hal Tihar (Plough Festival).

On this day, the animals that accompany humans in farming—such as cows and oxen—are also worshipped. In ancient times, there was even a folk belief that people would pass under a cow’s legs on this day for blessings. Today, cows, oxen, and even the farmers who plough the fields are honored and worshipped, and the festival is celebrated as Hali Tihar (Farmer’s Festival).

The tradition of worshipping cows is based on the religious belief that offering reverence to cows brings the same affection and blessings as one receives from their own mother.

The musical group of men from the neighborhood, believed to have been sent by King Bali, is called Deuse, and the musical offerings they sing and perform are known as Deusi.

In Deusi, there is usually a lead chanter—someone who needs to be knowledgeable about tunes, melodies, and rhythms. Apart from a few of the most popular chants, many other verses can be improvised according to the situation. Sometimes, when the group does not receive the expected offering (Dakshina) for their Deusi performance…

यो घर हेर्दा सिँहदरवार जस्तो

आँगन हेर्दा टुँडिखेल जत्रो

दक्षिणा हेर्दा माग्नेलाई जस्तो

केराको थम्बा

हामी यति जना भाइ जम्मा

झिलिमिली झिल्ला

ताते रोटी मिल्ला जस्ता पत्तिंहरु हामी मध्य धेरैको बाल्यकालसँग जोडिएको होला ।

देउसीले दिएको आशिषले साँच्चीकै विशेष मान्यता राख्दछ,

यसपाला आउँदा जस्ताको छाना

अर्को साल आउँदा पक्काको छाना

त्यसपछि आउँदा चाँदीको छाना

त्यसपछि आउँदा सुनको छाना

यो घरैका केटा केटी

Blessings such as “May you flourish like sacred dubo grass” are truly meaningful and relevant. Indeed, may all of us receive the blessings of Deusi, and may harmony grow among us. On this day, it is customary to forget anger and grudges, go to the neighbors’ houses to play Deusi, and strengthen social bonds. The money collected from Deusi is traditionally used either for some social cause, shared among the group, or spent on a community feast—an age-old practice that Nepali society has continued for generations.

Warm wishes on this special day.

World Science Day for Peace and Development

Background:

Every year on November 10, World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated around the world. The United Nations has started celebrating this day to understand the important role of science in society and how it affects its importance and relevance in our daily lives by engaging the general public in debates on emerging scientific issues.

To keep the citizens of today's society informed about the progress of science, the United Nations wants to move forward by keeping the society as close as possible to science. Today also explains the remarkable contributions that scientists make to the community for the benefit of our society.

Besides, the objectives of World Science Day for Peace and Development are to promote national and international solidarity for science among nations, renew national and international commitments to use science for the benefit of society, draw attention to the challenges faced by science and mobilize national and international support for scientific endeavors. Since its inception by UNESCO in 2001, many scientific projects and programs have been successful, with many countries around the world providing financial support at the initiative of UNESCO. One of the objectives of the day is to coordinate the work of war-affected nation's scientists with other scientific organizations in the world.