Bhaktapur:The Newar community in Bhaktapur observed the traditional Mohani Nakhah rituals today, coinciding with the celebration of Bijaya Dashami. This annual observance includes the application of Mohani Sih Na, a black ‘tika’, alongside the red ‘tika’ and ‘jamara’, as symbols of strength, good luck, and victory.
According to National News Agency RSS, the Mohani Sihnam, or black tika, is created from the soot of butter lamps lit during the worship of goddess Nawadurga Bhawani. These rituals are integral to the Dashain festival within the Newar culture, symbolizing religious, cultural, and tantric power.
The day of Bijaya Dashami also marks the celebration of the goddess Tripura Sundari’s victory over the demon Mahishasura, representing the triumph of truth over falsehood. A grand religious fair was organized at Bhaktapur’s Bramhayani Temple, where thousands of devotees worshipped with music and fanfare, embracing the black tika as a symbol of power.
Prakash Kayastha, a scholar of Newar culture, noted that the Mohani Nakhah rituals will conclude with the Khadga Jatra at the Taleju Temple at midnight. This involves a procession carrying the idol of Goddess Taleju, concluding the Mohani Nakhah festivities. The origins of these rituals are not precisely known, but they are believed to have begun with the advent of Tantrayana, with King Harisingha Deva bringing Taleju Bhawani from India to Nepal.