Tihar Festival, also called Deepawali and Yamapanchak in Nepal, is the second largest Hindu festival after Dashain. The five-day festival is also known as the Festival of Lights, one of the most popular festivals in Nepal. There is a special significance to each day of the festival.
Tihar festival celebrates the victory of God over the demons and has a rich history dating back to ancient times. During this festival, cows, crows, and dogs are also worshipped as these animals are believed to be gifts from Mother Nature. Tihar also worships Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and luck.
Tihar symbolizes the victory of humanity over darkness. Therefore, it is also considered to be one of Hinduism’s most friendly and enjoyable celebrations.
Celebrations of the Tihar Festival
Tihar Festival has no formal ceremony, and it is similar to other festivals around the world, like Christmas and New Year. The festival of lights begins with cleaning and painting houses and rooms in honor of the gods and goddesses.
Families and merchants decorate their homes and stores with colorful lights, and fireworks are displayed in the sky at night. Nepalis pay special homage to Laxmi in the evening, the goddess of wealth and luck, as well as offer praying to the gods for prosperity and health.
After the puja, people of all ages gather in groups on the third and fourth days of Tihar and exchange singing and dancing performances on the traditional Nepali songs Deusi and Bhailo. The performers receive blessings, especially from the elderly, and are given fruit, flowers, and money.
Tihar celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters on Bhai Tika, the last day of the festival. While praying to Lord Yama, sisters pray for their brothers’ long and prosperous lives. It is also a time of reunion and greetings between friends and relatives during this festival.
Eachy day of Tihar has its own significance:
Day 1 – Kaag Tihar:
Kaag Tihar marks the beginning of Tihar. Kaag means crow in Nepal and is regarded as a “bad messenger”. Crows are worshipped in Nepali society as the “Messenger of Death” and people offer grains, rice, and water to the crows. They are made happy to avoid bad news in the future.
Day 2- Kukur Tihar:
Kukur Tihar, also known as Dog Tihar, falls on the second day of the Tihar festival. Nepalis worship dogs on this day because dogs are believed to be the protectors and guides of their souls. A garland of marigold flowers is placed around their necks, and delicious food is served to them. Dog festivals are very popular among tourists, as they demonstrate the bond between humans and dogs.
Day 3- Gai Puja/ Laxmi Puja:
Tihar’s third day celebrates Gai (Cow) Tihar and Laxmi Puja, the worship of cows and goddess Laxmi. This is a day when cows are worshipped. The rites of worshiping cows include feeding them grass, decorating them with garlands, and affixing tikas to their foreheads. Cows are worshipped to welcome good fortune and prosperity.
Afterwards, everyone prepares for the Laxmi puja by cleaning the houses, lighting deeyas, hanging lights, and praying in the evening. Offerings of sweets, fruits, and Sel Roti (sweet rice bread) are made in front of the statue or frame of Goddess Laxmi. The young girls and boys go to play deusi bhailo after the puja.
Day 4- Govardhan Puja/ Mha Puja:
Tihar is also a time to worship the ox, regarded as an important domestic animal, especially for farmers. They are worshiped and given fresh grass to eat. Cow dung is also worshipped during Govardhan Puja as a symbolic representation of Govardhan Mountain.
A self-worshipping festival is performed by the Newar community in Kathmandu, known as Mha Puja. Newars celebrate the start of the new year by performing pujas for themselves.
Moreover, boys and girls gather together at night to play Deusi by visiting the neighborhood. It usually involves a boy singing a song and chanting some story about the Tihar festival while a group of people rally around him. For a whole night, they visit houses in the community, collect some funds, then divide them among themselves or use them for some social welfare purpose.
Day 5- Bhai Tika:
The final day of Tihar is Bhai Tika, which is also filled with love between brothers and sisters. Sisters prepare on this day by wearing clean clothes, cooking, and preparing tikas and garlands. Meanwhile, the brothers purchase gifts for their sisters and change into their best attire.
The sister first applies a white tika base, then adds seven different colors. Following that, they are adorned with fresh garlands and given Sel rotis, milk, and sweets.
There is a great significance behind this day. Sisters present tikas and garlands to their brothers as a way of protecting them. A gift will be given to the sister as a token of appreciation for this gesture.
Final Words:
Everybody enjoys the festival, and you can experience it in Nepal. There is a wonderful smell of sel roti, a view of kites flying in the sky, and melodious voices of youths singing.
Tihar is more than just a scene of prosperous light; it represents a spiritual journey as well. Crows will lead the way, dogs will guard the entrance to the underworld, cows will help us cross the wicked river Styx, and we will go up to Yama for judgment.
Visit Nepal this year and experience the festival of lights with the Himalayan Circuit.
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