KATHMANDU: Laxmi Puja, one of the most significant days of the five-day Tihar festival, was celebrated across the country on Sunday with traditional religious rituals and festivities.
The Kathmandu Valley has taken on a festive glow, with homes, streets, markets and business establishments illuminated with colourful lights.
Dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, the Hindu deity of wealth, prosperity and good fortune, the festival is marked by lighting oil lamps and decorating homes and workplaces to welcome the goddess.
People have adorned their houses with colourful electric lights, decorated entrances with flower garlands and created intricate rangoli designs in courtyards and doorways. Many households also mark symbolic footprints of Goddess Lakshmi, believing they will guide her into their homes and bring prosperity and abundance.
As night falls, rows of illuminated houses, glowing windows and brightly decorated commercial areas transform the Kathmandu Valley into a dazzling spectacle, adding to the festive atmosphere of Tihar.
The celebration reflects the traditional belief that welcoming Goddess Laxmi with light, cleanliness and devotion brings happiness, good fortune and prosperity to households.
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