KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 2
Tihar festival, also called Yama Panchak or Deepawali, will start from tomorrow. The festival is generally celebrated for five days with various rituals.
The first day will be observed as Kaag Tihar and Kukur Tihar tomorrow. On this day, crows and dogs are worshipped as messengers of death and protectors of the house, respectively. Similarly, cows and Goddess Laxmi will be worshipped on November 3 during Laxmi Puja on November 4 with the belief that it will bring wealth and happiness to the devotees.
Likewise, November 5 will mark Govardhan Puja. The last day of Tihar will be observed as Bhai Tika on November 6. Kija Puja will also be celebrated on the same day. On the day of Bhai Tika, brothers receive Tika from their sisters and vice versa.
According to Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti, the auspicious hour for Bhai Tika is 11:02am. People decorate their houses with colourful lights, flowers, oil lamps and fancy electric bulbs in Tihar. Playing Deusi-Bhailo and worshipping various animals and birds as part of nature are significant aspects of this festival.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 3, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
