Tihar festival is the second biggest festival of Hindu’s in Nepal. It is celebrate by Hindus follower. As in this festivals it is celebrate for five days. In where it start at from dark moon. As in five days Two day is very popular which is laxmi puja & bhai puja. In the laxmi puja hindus worship wealth god as well as national animal of nepal ” Cow”. Also it keep the values how the people and man are bound. It also respect to other animals.
Five Days celebration.
1st day: – Kaga Tihar: Crows are worship by offerings of sweets and food on the roofs of houses. The cawing of crows is symbolizes sadness and grief in Hinduism, so devotees offer to them food to avert grief and death in their homes. Tihar represents the divine attachment between humans and other animals.
2nd day: – Kukura Tihar : Dogs are worship by offerings of sweets and other food on the roofs of houses. The dogs are symbolizes for security and grief in Hinduism. It protect our valuable things.
3rd day: – Laxmi Tihar: It is third day is Gai Tihar (worship of the cow). In Hinduism, cow signifies prosperity and wealth. In ancient times people benefited a lot from the cow. Its milk, dung, even urine was used for purposes like purification. Feed the caw fresh grass & good food. Houses are cleaned and the doorways and windows are decorate with garlands made of sayapatri (marigolds) and makhamali (chrysanthemums) flowers.
In the evening Laxmi, the goddess of wealth is worship for all the benefits. That were bestow on the families by lighting oil lamps (Diyo) or candles on doorways and windows to welcome prosperity and well being. At night the girls enjoy dancing and visiting all the houses of the neighborhood with musical instruments singing and dancing known as Bhailo all night long collecting money as tip from houses and share the price between themselves.
4th day: – Gobardhan Tihar: It is the fourth day of onward tihar is celebrate with pray ox then Deusi and Bhailo with light and fireworks. Deusi-Bhailo is singing & dancing by the people in neighbors. Nowadays social workers, politician, and young people visit local homes, sing these songs, and collect funds for welfare and social activities too.
5th day: – Bhai puja, the fifth day of Tihar sister pray the brother then feed many verity of food. Give new cloth with bless. Sisters put a tika to the foreheads of their brothers to ensure long life and thank them for the protection they provide.
What it stands for?
As well as it also shows the as deep relation and respect to the other animals In the bhai puja it shows about deep relation, love and respect between sisters and brother . Where as brothers also give gifts as respect. In this time all the brothers and sister as well as family gather for the celebration.
It include the celeberation play “Bhali and Dheusai”. In where people make a team and start to sing a religion song and worship for the happy of each. In this festival different local food are prepared. Also the house and the society are decorate with colors and pattern made in front of house. Also the cities and house they use candle or electric small bulbs of different colors for making more beautiful and decorative. As it helps to protect the culture of Nepal.
