KATHMANDU: The auspicious hour for receiving and offering Bhaitika this year is at 11:55 am on November13, as stated by the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti.

Though the auspicious hour for this year's Bhaitika, the main celebration of the five-day Tihar festival, is calculated for 11:55 am, but the Tika ceremony can be observed throughout the day after that time, Committee Chair Prof Dr Ramchandra Gautam said.

The Tihar festival, also known as Yama Panchak, kicks off on November 9.

The festival is the second greatest festival of Nepalis after the Badadashain festival.