The Nepalese community in Edmonton observed Mha Puja (The Worship of Body Persona) and New Year (Nepal Era 1141) amidst a special cultural event virtually via Webex on Saturday November 21, 2020. The cultural event was hosted by the Newa Cultural Society of Alberta (NCSA), a local organization established under the Societies Act of Government of Alberta to practice, promote and preserve Newa culture and traditions in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The cultural event was inaugurated by Dr. Hemanta Joshi, President of NCSA, by lighting the Twadewas, traditional Nepalese artistic oil lamps.Similarly,Dr. Joshi paid tribute to late Sankhadhar Sakhwal,the founding father of Nepal Era calendar, by garlanding on his portrait.
In the inaugural session,Dr. Hemanta Joshi,President of NCSA,delivered a welcome speech highlighting on the significance of Mha Puja and New Year (Nepal Era). According to Dr.Joshi, Mha Puja is a unique Newa tradition to purify and empower the soul that resides inside the human body by recognizing, respecting, purifying and worshiping it. According to Dr. Joshi, Mha Puja also signifies the beginning of the New Year of Nepal Era Calendar.
In the cultural event, chief guest Mr.Naresh Tamrakar, President of Newa De Daboo – a national organization in Nepal, extended his Mha Puja and New Year Greetings to the members of the community. He expressed his satisfaction being part of the cultural event and praised the activities and accomplishments made by NCSA towards promoting and preserving Newa culture and traditions in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He also stressed the need for further deep research on Shankhadhar and his contributions to the people and the country. Mr. Man Kaji Shrestha, President of Canada Nepal Friendship and Cultural Society (CANFACS) in Vancouver, also extended his Mha Puja and New Year greetings to the members of the community. Mr. Dwarika Shrestha, senior member of the community, briefly spoke about historical aspects of Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat calendar. Mr. Tri Prasad Dhoubhadel, Vice President of NCSA, thanked all the guests, community members, well-wishers for attending the cultural event virtually and making the cultural event enjoyable and successful.
In the cultural event, video clips on past community Mha Puja and New Year celebrations (2013 to 2019) and community Mha Puja ceremony of NCSA performed in 2016 were webcast to the participants/viewers to reflect on significance of Mha Puja. Participants/viewers were also entertained with a video clip related to Nepal Sambat and Shankhadhar, as well as live and pre-recorded cultural performances collected from different sources.The cultural event was conducted virtually by Mr. Mahesh Maharjan, member of NCSA.
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