Tihar Festival

Tihar Festival

Tihar is celebrated as the second biggest festival after Dashai. It is the festival of lights, tinsel decorations and sweets. On different days, people worship crows, dogs, cows and oxen with vermilion, garland and delicious food for their important role in the society. On the night of Lakshimi Puja, House are cleaned and decorated with candles, oil lamps and other lights with the belief that Goddess Laxmi will enter the house that is bright and cleanest.

Garlands are hung at the door and windows and lamps are lit to invite Lakshimi, the goddess of wealth, into the homes, shops and workplaces. Newar community in Nepal also observes Mha puja,
a ritual of worshipping one’s own body and soul to remain healthy and happy for the rest of the year. On Bhaitika, the last day of the festival is the day when sisters make offerings to their brothers for their longivity to safeguard the lives of sisters and brothers in return reward them with valuable goods.

The rituals of breaking a walnut, putting on garlands of Makhamali flowers and encircling brothers in rings of mustard oil are performed to protect them from Yama, the Lord of death.

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