Svanti
Celebrated In: October*
“Svanti is one of the national festivals of Nepal celebrated throughout the kingdom by the Hindu and Buddhist population. This festival is known by several names: Svanti, Pancaka, Yamapancaka, Tihar and Dipavali. Both the words ‘Tihar’ and ‘Dipavali’ are derived from the Hindi words ‘Tyauhara’ and ‘Divali’. Svanti, Pancaka and Yamapancaka are words from Nepalese origin (Naghabhani 1991:30).“
Svanti is derived from Swanhu Tithi (three auspicious days). Whereas Yamapancaka means ‘ Five days dedicated to Yama’.
“During this festival, Yama, the god of death is invoked and so it is called ‘Yamapancaka’. People assume that during these five days, Yama descends on this world. On the first and second day of this festival, Yama’s messengers, the crow and the dog are worshipped. On the third day, the cow is worshipped. Although the cow is worshipped as Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, she is also respected as an animal associated with the realm of Yama. Yama’s assistance is sought in order that recently deceased people may cross the river Baitarani to reach heaven. Honouring Yama and his messengers Yamadut on the day of Mhapuja and worshipping Yama and his bookkeeper Citragupta on the day of Kijapuja clearly mark the relation of this festival to death.”1
This direction of the celebration of Svanti weakened over time, as it took on the facets of Tihar and Dipavali with the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, initiation of Bhai Tika and the overall view of the celebration as “Festival of Lights”.
“Although Yama is invoked on each of the live days during this festival, many people disagree with the name "Yamapancaka" because the lofty ways of celebrating Laksmi, the worship of the self, and the worship of brothers have weakened the worship of Yama considerably (Naghabhani 1991: 47)”
Today in the modern Newar household, Svanti is celebrated for a total of five days:
Kva Puja: Worship of crows, messengers of death;
Khicapuka: Worship of dogs;
Sa Puja and Laksmi Puja: The worship of cows and Goddess Laksmi, the goddess of wealth;
Mah Puja: The worship of the self and beginning of New Year in Nepal Sambat Calendar; and
Kija Puja: The worship of brothers by their sisters.
Saki Mila Punhi
Celebrated In: November*
Saki Mila Punhi, also known as Saki Manā Punhi is the full moon of the Newar month Kachhala. Saki stands for Taro and Mana means to boil. Thus on this day households prepare boiled taro/arum along with sweet potato. Halimali which are sacred art made from puffed rice, corn, wheat and black soybean which are exhibited in front of temples accompanied by Dapha Bhajan or Dhalcha Bhajan (chanting religious hymns).
Bala Charhe
Celebrated In: December*
Commonly known as Bala Chaturdashi, this day sees family members of the Newar Households scatter seeds (sadhbew) and pray for the souls of the departed in Pashupati of Kathmandu.
Yomari Punhi
Celebrated In: December*
Traditionally Newar Households, feature a majority population of farmers. They sow their seeds pre Gathamugah and post collect the harvest of the season. During the full moon of the month, the households celebrate Yomari Punhi. It is a post-harvest festival of worshipping Goddess Annapurna, also known as Angsa Maru Ajima located at Asan of Kathmandu. Various temples dedicated to Goddess Annapurna all over the valley, feature devotees offering prayer, worship and thanking by presenting the fruit of the first harvest, “Yomari.”
The full moon takes its name from Yomari which is a steamed rice cake filled with molasses, locally known as Chakku. Households offer prayer, worship and place a Yomari in the Dhukoo (Grain Store Room). Communal celebrations see parades of children and young go door to door with traditional music. They are offered grain, Yomari and money by the households.
Learn more about the origin of Yomari: Yomari Punhi
*: As Newar festivals are celebrated according to the lunar Nepal Era calendar, the dates in the Gregorian calendar are interchangeable.
