KATHMANDU: Tihar, also called Deepawali – the second biggest and the brightest Hindu festival – besides called the festival of lights also holds the message of love and affection between brothers and sisters.
Festivals in Nepal are often taken as occasions by people for get-togethers, merry-making, traveling, and renewal of bonds.
The festival is marked by five days of celebration, which literally illuminates the hearts of the people with constant celebration and a sense of goodness dazzling people with joy.
During Tihar, people decorate their houses with lights, flowers and oil lamps, prepare delicacies such as ‘sel roti’ (traditional Nepali bread made from rice flour), and sweets.
The festival, also known as the Yama Panchak, starts from today. The first day of the Tihar festival, the Kaag Tihar is being observed on the first day by worshipping crows, considered as the messengers of death.
On this day, people feed crows with grains and sweets early in the morning.
On the second day, Kukur Tihar, people worship dogs considered as the protectors of the house by feeding them with lavish food. People believe that dogs guarantee the souls of the dead to go to heaven.
On this day, Nepal Police present garlands to the patrol dogs as a symbol of gratitude for their contributions to social security.
On the third day of this festival, people worship cows and Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth.
This is one of the most important days of the festival. People clean their houses early in the morning, and worship cows, feed them, put red Tika on their foreheads, and tie holy strings to their tails.
In the evening, people illuminate their houses with candles, oil lamps and electric lights with the belief that illuminating the houses would attract Goddess Laxmi.
People also go around by singing Tihar songs such as ‘Deusi’ and ‘Bhailo’ and seek blessings. In return, house owners give them money, sweets and roti.
On the fourth day, people worship ox (Goru Puja), or Govardhan Puja. Likewise, Maha Puja is also celebrated mainly by the Newar community to mark the New Year.
People worship ox which is considered as an indispensable helper for a peasant.
The last day of the five-day festival is Bhai Tika. On this day, sisters put seven-colored tika on the brother’s forehead and offer colorful garlands to the brothers.
They also exchange gifts, sweets and nuts after putting tika which marks a special significance in fostering love and respect between brothers and sisters.
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