Mohani

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Mohni
Girls chop up an ash gourd symbolising the destruction of evil during Mohani
Observed by	Nepalese Hindus and Buddhists
Observances	Worship of Tutelary deity, veneration of tools of the trade, religious rituals, sword processions, sacred masked dances, animal sacrifices, feasts
Begins	1st day of lunar fortnight
Ends	11th day of lunar fortnight
Related to	Dasain

Mohani (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐩𑑀𑐴𑑂𑐣𑐷‎; from Classical Newar: 𑐩𑐴𑐣𑐷‎, mahani)^[1], also known as Moni or Mohni is annual religious festival celebrated by the Newar people of Nepal.^[2] It is analogous to Dashain, a Hindu festival celebrated in South Asia, although Mohani celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists. The festival is based on the lunar calendar and starts on the first day of the bright fortnight of Kaula, around late September and lasts for fifteen days till the full moon.^[3]

The festival involves a packed itinerary of religious services, pilgrimages, family gatherings and outdoor celebrations lasting several days. Special dinners known as Nakhtya (𑐣𑐏𑑂𑐟𑑂𑐫𑐵‎), to which all the relatives are invited, continue for weeks later. The festival is also dedicated to Taleju, the tutelary goddess of the Malla kings.

The festival has been variously described as a celebration of Hindu Goddess Durga slaying the demon Mahisasur, Goddess Chamunda destroying the demon Chunda and Indian emperor Ashoka renouncing arms in disgust after a particularly bloody battle and becoming a Buddhist. Mohani is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, so the dates are changeable.^[4][5] The main celebrations last for four days from the 8th to the 11th days of the bright half of Kaulā (कौला), the twelfth month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar.