Mochi is great (and much more filling than it looks... afterall it's condensed rice
) for any occasion, but yeah, be careful when cooking.
It can literally explode if you do it wrong.
And be careful when you eat it.
Every year, a few people in Japan die because they get the super-sticky gooey mochi stuck in their throat, and suffocate.
Mochi cooked right taste very good though.
My suggestion? If it's your first time, go BUY ONE and eat it... rather than challenging from start.