KATHMANDU: The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti (Nepal Calendar Determination Committee) has announced 8:45 am of Tuesday as the most auspicious time for giving and receiving the Tika of this year’s Dashain festival.

The Samiti Chairman Ram Chandra Gautam, however, informed that one can give and receive Tika as per one’s convenience although the most suitable time has been declared to be 8:45.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari is also scheduled to give and receive Tika and Jamara at the given time.

Hindus across the country are preparing for the Dashain Tika ritual along with family reunion for Tuesday.

The Tika is a mixture of rice grains, curd and red vermilion powder formed into a paste and put on the forehead as a blessing from the Goddess Durga on the 10th day of the Dashain festival.

Similarly, Jamara are either the newly-germinated barley or maize shoots that are put behind the ears or on heads as an auspicious item during the Dashain festival.