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.

Kag "काग" Tihar and Kukur "कुकुर" Tihar

This festival also worship animals for the good they do to human being. On the very first day of tihar, crow are worshipped and fed early in the morning. Crow is considered to be messanger to death. On the second day dogs are worshipped and fed. The second day of tihar is dedicated to the most loyal friend of mankind. Kukur Tihar is dedicated to thanking puppies for their friendship and carrier. Hindu tradition holds that a dog is the dad or mum and messenger of Yama. Kukur or the dog puja  is done by putting a red tika on dog’s forehead and flower garland around the neck offering him foods and sel roti. Generally male dogs are worshiped. It is said dog can see endangers and the death coming. 

Laxmi Pooja "लक्ष्मी पूजा" 

Diwali is the festival of lights, but it is also a festival of bringing prosperity in our lives. On the third day of tihar Cows are worshipped in the morning. Cows are worshipped with sesame oil light, garland of flower and red color (abir). Wheat flour, sel roti, rice and dal are feed to cows.  Disciples try to pass in-between four legs of the cow. Cow is regarded as mother in Hindu religion, as we grow up drinking her milk. Laxmi is also referred to as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Lakshmi Puja is one of the most important celebrations during Diwali. 

The lights mean the celebration of diwali. The shining and singing of diwali song determine the values and respect to goddess Lakshmi. This festival also marks the birthday of a goddess of wealth. It is so celebrated every year. On this very Diwali day, the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi is said to have been incarnated from the depth of the bottomless ocean. 

In the afternoon we clean our houses, paint floors with Red Mud (Rato Mato) and cow dung (gobar). small circles are made in front of the main gate and decorated with colorful designs. Some people call it rangoli. Small designs of footsteps are painted from the main entrance to the puja kotha. There is a long tradition of going housed in the evening singing songs to ask for money and foods. Generally girls and kids go out to neighbors sing traditional songs called Bhailo songs. The tradition is called “Bhailo” and songs are called Bhailini songs.

Govardhan Pooja "गोवर्दन पूजा" 

On fourth day, people are charged up with energy and enthusiasm. They do up their homes and offices with diyas, candles, flowers, rangoli and more. It is also a common ritual of making small mounds of cow dung to represent the Govardhan mountain, which once dried, is decorated with fresh and beautiful flowers. In temples, devotees and priests together sing ‘Thaal’ or devotional hymns composed by poet paramhansas of Swaminarayan. These describe the food items and request the deity to accept the offerings. Once, the food is offered, it is then distributed as ‘Prasad’. In some temples, aartis are performed several times during the day and idols are given a milk bath and dressed in elaborate clothes and ornamentation.

In this night Newar community perform Maha Puja also known as self-puja. It is done to purify our body. In this puja a Mandap decorated with Saipatri (marigold flower), sweets and fruits and a special Mala (garland) which is made of thread is kept. Each member of the family has one Mandap. A female member of the family offers the person sitting on the Mandap a Sagun with her hands crossed. Shagun usually consist of fried eggs, fruits, sweets, meat, fish, lentil and pastries. In the left hand with egg and fish and in the right hand Rakshi (homemade alcohol). This day is also the beginning of Nepal Sambat, Newari New year. 

In the evening many Nepali children and young men go house to house singing Deusi song (Aahai bhana mera bhai ho deusi re bhana na bhana deusere). Deusi is very similar to Bhailo. Bhailo is primarily for female and Deusi for male. However, now a days there is such distinction. People go in group with males and females members to celebrate Bhailo and deusi both. 

Bhai Tika "भाई टिका"

Bhai Tika is one of the most important days of the second biggest festival of Nepal. Bhai Tika which is celebrated on the 5th and last day of Tihar is an important day of the festival. Bhai Tika is such a day to pray for the long life of the brothers by sisters, which is referred as “vai or Bhai”. 

According to Hindu religious scriptures, Yamaraj, the God of death, went to visit his sister’s house after a long period of separation. His sister, Yami was very happy to see him and welcomed him by putting an auspicious mark on his forehead for his welfare. Yami and Yamraj then shared a meal. He was so pleased with his sister’s reception, he proclaimed that every year, on the Tika day, if a sister puts a Tika (Tilak) on her brother’s forehead, then no one can harm her brother. Till date, this tradition is followed. Sisters perform puja for their brother’s safety and well-being. Brothers in return give gifts to their sisters as a token of love. Varied gifts specially meant for Bhai Tika is available in the market. This festival of Tihar is incomplete without Bhai Tika. It is referred as “Bharatiya” in the Madhesh region of the Nepal and “Bhai-Dooj” in the India.

This day sisters put “Tika of five colours” Panch Rangi Tika - Yellow, green, red, blue and white on forehead of her brothers, to ensure long life and pray to Yamraja for her brother’s long life and prosperity. Sister offers brothers Shaguns of  dry fruits especially walnut, hazelnut (Katus), fruits and sweets and in return the brothers give their sisters gifts and money. The brothers also put Pancha Rangi Tika to sister and bow her on her feet and assure her to protect her till the end of life.

Those who don’t have sisters or brothers do it with cousins or close relatives. The temple inside Rani Pokhari of Kathmandu is open this day for those who don’t have brothers or sisters to gather here and apply tika considering themselves as soul siblings. The Bhai Tika is an important day for the Hindu, to strengthen the relationship between brothers and sisters.