KATHMANDU: The final day of the five-day Tihar festival, Bhai Tika, is being celebrated across the country today, Wednesday, with sisters and brothers reaffirming their bonds of love, affection and mutual protection through traditional rituals.
On this special occasion, sisters apply colourful seven-coloured tika (Saptarangi tika) on their brothers’ foreheads, wishing them happiness, good health, prosperity and longevity. In return, brothers offer gifts and blessings to their sisters, expressing their love and gratitude.
As part of the traditional rituals, sisters prepare a sacred space for their brothers, marking a protective boundary with mustard oil and placing garlands of marigold and makhamali (globe amaranth) around them. Brothers also apply tika to their sisters, while sisters serve a special assortment of traditional delicacies, including sweets, walnuts and sel roti.
The National Calendar Determination Committee has fixed 11:07 AM as the most auspicious time for applying Bhai Tika this year. However, the committee has clarified that the ritual can be performed at any convenient time throughout the day.
Bhai Tika carries deep religious and cultural significance, with its origins associated with the legend of Yama, the god of death. According to the traditional belief, a devoted sister received a blessing from Yama that her brother would remain safe until the mustard oil dried and the dubo grass and makhamali garland withered. The ritual thus symbolizes a sister’s prayers for her brother’s long life and protection.
The festival also celebrates the broader spirit of siblinghood and social harmony. People who do not have biological brothers or sisters traditionally exchange tika with those they consider their siblings, ensuring that no one is left out of the celebration.
Meanwhile, Balgopaleshwor Temple at Ranipokhari in Kathmandu has opened its doors to the public today, allowing people without siblings to worship and receive tika as part of the longstanding Bhai Tika tradition.
Beyond its religious rituals, Bhai Tika serves as an occasion to strengthen family relationships, renew affection and celebrate the enduring bonds between brothers and sisters.
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