20 Beard facts that you may not know

• Hans Langseth’s  beard stretched to 5.33 m (17-feet, 6-inches) in 1927, earning him the title of Man With The Longest Beard Ever. Hans Langseth’s beard eventually made its way to Washington, D.C. and was stored in the Smithsonian Institute in 1967.
• Vivian Wheeler of the United States holds the record of having the longest female beard ever. Following the death of her mother in 1990 Wheeler grew a full beard that measured 11 inches.
• The Australian band called “The Beards” have sung every single one of their 38 songs about beards.
• Some people have the fear of beard which is called Pogonophobia. Nausea, feelings of dread, sweating and irregular heartbeat etc are its symptoms. 

Harmful Effects of Fireworks in Tihar

Fireworks is often used for celebrating various national and cultural events all over the world. Tihar or Dipawali in Nepal, Diwali Festival in India, Yanshui Festival in Taiwan, Montreal International Fireworks competition, Lantern Festival in Beijing, Guy Fawkes Night in the United Kingdom etc. are the festivals celebrated with fireworks.

If you ask me we should think twice before buying fireworks in Dipawali. This is not the way to celebrate this beautiful festival. There can be many alternatives of fireworks. We can buy gifts, books, gadgets or cloths which are less harmful for nature as compared to firecrackers.  Considering the effects of fireworks on health and environment we should avoid the use of fireworks & look for alternatives. 

Harmful effects of fireworks in tihar:

• On this auspicious occasion unknowingly harmful gases and toxic substances released to environment by bursting fireworks such as Barium, Cadmium, Sodium, Mercury, Nitrate and Nitrite. These are called as Air pollutants. High level of pollutants cause various respiratory tract diseases and skin diseases.
• Need of electricity goes high in this period. To overcome shortage of electricity majorly electricity generated by using diesel, Coal etc. that also causes air pollution.

Tihar

Tihar is second biggest festival celebrated in Nepal after Dashain. Tihar is also known as Deepawali in Terai and Diwali in India. Tihar is five day long festival which is celebrated 20 days after Dashain(Dashami). People light their houses with ‘diyos’ and many other lighting bulbs inside and outside their house. We can see whole Nepal lighting better than ever in a whole year during this festival.The five long day festival begins with worship of crow, followed by worship of dog in second day, laxmi puja in third day, govardhan puja in day four and ends with bhaitika on the fifth day. The festival marks the turn of year in Lunar Calendar, Nepali Sambat. 

There are various stories behind the celebration of Tihar. One of the famous stories behind the celebration of tihar is related to Yama the god of death and his sister Yamuna. Yama had been staying away from his sister for a long time. His sister wanted to meet him so she asked various sources to visit him and ask him to give her a visit. She sent crow, dog, and cow and at the end she went herself to see her brother. She worshipped him with tika and flowers, she put him five colored tika. Yamuna made a circle with mustard oil, Dubo Grass (Cynodon Dactylon) and put Makhmali Mala (Globe Amaranth) and asked Yamaraj not to go till the oil, Dubo Grass and the flower gets dry. Therefore, every sister worships her brother keeping him in the circle of mustard oil, putting mala (garland) of Makhmali flower and Dubo grass.

Good & Bad Aspect of Dashain

The biggest festival of Nepalese "Dashain" is celebrated during the month of Ashoj or kartik every year. Dashain is the longest festival of Nepal and celebrated throughout the kingdom of Nepal. The fifteen days long festival glorifies the triumph of good over evil. Dashain is mainly celebrated by hindus but it leaves its impact on every citizen of country.Weather you participate or not in the biggest festival of Nepal, there are other things to look forward to. 

Good Aspects of Dashain

1. Festival for all age group

Dashain is the festival which is entertained by all. Childrens, adult, old all celebrate and enjoy in Dashain. Family gathering, eating meats especially 'खसी ' , flying kites, visiting temples, playing cards, worshiping god & goddess etc. are the activities performed in dashain.