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November 19, 2021 at 10:59AM
Day 3359 – Mha Puja 2021 - Swonti Vibes
After missing out on the celebrations in 2020 due to lockdown in Covid19 Pandemic, PANOSS family gathered in Perivale abode to celebrate this year’s Mha Puja.
We created many memories but for me the one that stands out will be playing cards till almost 5.00AM, having sleepovers at ours and Bhakta Band playing Deusi.
We started the day early when Nilesh and Sachetan(Solar Tul)’s family arrived for the lunch. But before that we started playing cards.
Missing on early afternoon fun Sanyukta’s family arrived after kids’ school was over and started making Manda:s. This year to save any fire hazards we decided to use tiles for Manda. In absence of right-sized terracotta tiles, we had to settle for grey tiles. It took us over 2 hours to make 14 Mandas and less than 10 minutes to ruin it all. Obviously, it was because we were too hungry for the Newah feast.
Bhakta Band and deusi music around the fire was great fun. But, we couldn't wait for Tass (Cards) marathon again; Flush, Marriage, Jhyaap…..etc till 5.00AM in the morning.
Both Sachetan and Sanyukta’s Family had a sleepover – the sleep that was over in a couple of hours and fast was broken by delicious breakfast by Nikki – Chana and Sel-roti.
And again, back to playing cards.
The fun-filled two days with the amazing family was over however, the memories of these two days will remain for many years to come. The excitement that we had in the building up to these two days was ethereal, too. I can’t, already, wait for the next Mha Puja in 2022.
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What is Swonti and Mha Puja, though?
Swonti: "Swonti" refers to the five-day sequence however it is said that it derived from ‘swa-nhi’ - "three days’ in Nepal bhasha" that is, the last three days of the sequence—the day before the new year, the New Year's Day and the succeeding day. Alternative name, Pa(n)carata has also been used to describe the five days of swonti.
Swonti emphasizes the existence and importance of relations in the household. The core reference is to the feminine—sisterly, wifely, maternal—centrality in the emotional and physical life and the economic management of the household. The supportive role of women is related to the benign goddess Laksmi and placed in opposition to destruction represented by the personification of death as Yama and his messengers. Swonti's first three days, are at the end of the dark fortnight, ending in the dark, new moon, and New Year's Day.
The first two days of Swanti Kwo Puja and Khicha Puja namely, "Crow Puja" and "Dog Puja", are considered to be the agents of Yama, ruler of the realm of death.
The third day of the festival or the first of the three main days of ‘Swonti’ (Swo-nhi) is laxmi puja, the end of the lunar year. Laxmi puja is associated with the hope of wealth and good fortune for the household in the coming year.
Mha-Puja marks the first day of the Lunar year, the term "Mha" means body in Nepal Bhasha. Essentially Mha Puja is the worshiping of each member of the household by the naki(n), the senior active woman of the household in front of the mandala. The mandala is drawn with 5 concentric circles at the middle with the shape of an eight-petalled lotus at the outside. The five circles are made up of Chickan(Oil), Aakhen(Red rice), Maaye( Black whole lentils), Haaku Musyaa( Black Soyabean), and Taaye(unhusked/puffed rice). The items used to adorn the mandala symbolize good fortune, long life, and freedom from perils. The mandala has been interpreted as a microcosmic and macrocosmic representation of the self.
The final day of the Swanti sequence is Kija Puja, literally "younger brother puja’. The puja is related to a tale about a sister who was able to protect her younger brother from death. She asked death's messenger if he would delay taking her brother until she had finished worshiping him, and until the flowers and fruits that she would present as offerings to her brother had wilted, faded, and spoiled. The messenger accepted her pious request. Through her prolonged puja, and through the presentation of special kinds of flowers and fruits that did not wilt, fade, or spoil, the sister was able to prevent Yama from taking her brother's life.
November 15, 2021 at 12:45PM
Day 3356: Nepal Lipi Series 1 - Completion
Nepal Lipi course conducted by PASA PUCHAH GUTHI, UK has successfully completed on Sunday, 14 November 2021.
Congratulations on successfully completing the course. - Junu Shrestha, Nikki Shakya, Rajani Shrestha, Marilena Frisone, Janaki Kayastha, Pratik Rumde, Sandeep Shrestha
And a huge thank you to Sunita Dangol and Ananda K. Maharjan for such engaging and effective teaching.
Some pictures to preserve the memories are shared here.
#NepalLipi #calligraphy #Callijatra
