Tihar Festival in Nepal

The Tihar festival in Nepal is one of the most important Hindu festivals, celebrated over a period of five days. Also known as Deepawali or Laxmi Puja, it is second only to Dashain, another major Hindu festival.
The first day of Tihar is called Kaag (crow) Tihar. Crows and ravens, believed to be the messengers of the death god, Yama, are worshipped with offerings of grains, seeds, and sweets placed on the roofs or on the streets.

The second day is known as Kukur (dog) Tihar. On this day, all dogs, whether pets or strays are offered treats and worshipped by placing a tika on their forehead and garlands of marigolds around their necks. This day marks the special relationship between humans and dogs, where dogs are thanked and celebrated for their loyalty, service, and companionship.

The morning of the third day is called Gaai (cow) Tihar. The cow is an important animal in Hinduism and is considered sacred. The cow is associated with the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. Thus, on the third day of Tihar, Nepali Hindus show their gratitude to the cow by feeding them treats and worshipping them with tikas and garlands. The festival’s patron goddess, Lakshmi, is welcomed into cleaned homes with doorways and windows decorated with marigold garlands. Oil-fed lamps are put up in doorways and windowsills, while electric lights are draped over houses, in the belief that the goddess will not visit dark homes. A special puja is also offered to Lakshmi in the evening, wishing for wealth, prosperity, and good health.

In the evening, young girls go around the neighbourhood, singing and dancing in a tradition called bhailo. They are offered small amounts of money and food as rewards for the entertainment they provide. Fireworks are also common on this particular day.

The fourth day of Tihar is Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja when the ox is worshipped and celebrated. The ox is seen as an analogue to the cow in Hinduism, as the ox provides manual labour, especially important in an agricultural country like Nepal. Hindus also perform Govardhan Puja, which is worship towards the holy Govardhan mountain.

The fourth day of Tihar also generally coincides with the New years’ day of the Newari calendar and thus, is the celebratory Mha Puja for the Newar community. Mha Puja is a unique tradition where the self and the soul are worshipped by the Newari people.

The fifth and last day of Tihar is called Bhai Tika. This final day is celebrated with much fanfare across the country. Brothers and sisters mark their special bond by worshipping each other with tika on the forehead and garlands. The ceremony is performed regardless of whether the brother is older or younger than the sister, and first or second cousins are also eligible. In the end, the brother touches the feet of their sisters with their foreheads, signifying love, respect, and devotion. The brothers receive a variety of cooked food, fruits, and packaged food while the sisters receive cash or other gifts.