Tihar Festival - 9 Days

Tihar Festival is the second biggest festival of Hindu’s in Nepal. It is celebrated for five days during dark moon, which comes soon after the Deshain. In five days Two day is very popular which is laxmi puja & bhai puja. It called dipawali too

1^st day: –        Kaga Puja:  The first day of the festival is called Kaag Tihar (worship of the crow). Crows are worshiped 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.

2^nd day: –       Kukura Puja the second day is called Kukur Tihar. Dogs are worshiped by offerings of sweets and other food on the roofs of houses. The dogs are symbolizes for security and grief in Hinduism,

3^rd day: –       laxmi puja, 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 decorated with garlands made of sayapatri (marigolds) and makhamali (chrysanthemums) flowers.

In the evening Laxmi, the goddess of wealth is thanked for all the benefits that were bestowed 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.

4^th day: –      Gobardhan puja, the fourth day of onward tihar is celebrated 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.

5^th day: –       Bhai puja, the fifth day of Tihar sister pray the brother then feed many verity of food. Give new cloth with bless. It is observed by sisters put a tika to the foreheads of their brothers to ensure long life and thank them for the protection they provide.