Mha Puja as a unifier

The new year rituals of the Newa community can be promoted as a pan-Nepali event as well as a tourist attraction.

Tihar, known as Swonti to the Newa community, is a very important festival for many groups in Nepal. The Newa community, in particular, celebrates the New Year according to the Nepal Sambat calendar at this time. The Nepal Sambat was used as the official calendar in Nepal until 1903, when it was replaced by the Bikram Sambat calendar (which was introduced by then prime minister Chandra Shumsher Rana). The Gujaratis also celebrate their New Year on the same day during Tihar.