Tihar is another biggest festival in Nepal after Bijaya Dashami which lasts for 5 days. Tihar is also known as Dipawali, the festival of lights. It is celebrated by the every Hindus of Nepal, India also in Darjeeling district in west Bengal. In this festival the houses and malls and shops Diyos (lights from electricity as well as candles and typical mud made Diyos). This festival is also known as Swanti among Newari people of Nepal. This festival is specially celebrated for brothers by their sisters, for brothers long life, good luck and prosperity.
Tihar Festival begins with Kaag Tihar in Trayodashi of Kartik Krishna Paksha and ended with Bhai Tika in Dwitiya of Kartik Sukla Paksha. This festival falls in Kartik (OCT-SEP).
In this festival Hindus worship Animals like Crow(kaag), Dogs (kukur), Cows (Gai) and Oxen(Goru). People decorate their house with different colored lights, Rangoli on the floor made by different colored sand, flower petals, dry flour and colored rice. Rangoli is made to welcome Goddess Laxmi, Lord of wealth and prosperity.
The five special days of this festival are:
Day 1: Kaag Tihar
The first day of Tihar is known is Kaag Tihar (Crow Festival). in this people worship Kaag , it is regarded as the messenger of Yamraja, the God of death. People worship Kaag on this day believing it will bring good luck in the house and the death wont occur. On this day, people feed the crow and worship with flowers, red colour tika and Diyos.
Day 2: Kukur Tihar
The second day for Tihar is known as Kukur Tihar ( Dog Festival). In this day, people worship Kukur which is believed to the Vahana (vehicle ) of Lord Shiva and the guard of Yamaraj. On this day , people feed delicous food to dog and worship with flower, red colour tika and Diyos. The dogs are belied to watch over the gate of Naraka (Hell), so this day is also known as Naraka Chatudashi.
In this day, sisters need to wake up early in the morning to get bath. After bathing sisters need to burn the fire from Sesame Seed tree and do Puja. It is believed after doing this their brothers will have good and happy life ever.
Day 3: Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja
The third of Tihar is known as Gai tihar (cow festival) and Laxmi puja. In this day, people worship cow in the morning with good food, red colour tika, Mala (Garland) made up of sayapatri ful (flower). In Hinduism cow is the symbol of prosperity and wealth, so killing cow in Nepal is biggest sin.
In the evening, people worship Goddess Laxmi, believing goddeess will visit the house of her followers and give blessing of wealth. The houses are decorated with various colourful lights, Diyos, Rangoli.
In this night, people use to go to each house to play Deusi Bhailo (local culture singing and dancing) and gives blessing and house ower will give them tips including money, delicious foods, fruits, flower, rice seeds including mud lamp in it. Even the politicians also playas Deusi Bhailo in this and 4th day of Tihar.
Day 4: Govardhan Puja
In this day, Hindus will worship Govardhan (Goru) Ox by providing delicious food to ox, put Tika in his forehead, put Mala in his neck and blow mud candle. This day is specially celebrated by the local people of Govardhan Mountain, but it is not possible to got to Govardhan Mountain for everyone they use to make mountain with Ox Dung and worhip it. It is believed that Ox is the vehicle of Lord Shiva. In this day Newari people use to worship themselves which is also known as Mha Puja (self worship).
Day 5: Bhai Tika
This is the fifth and last day of Tihar called Bhai Tika. In this day, sister put tika with seven different colour in her brother forehead to ensure the long, healthy and happy life of her brother. As per our ancentors God Yamraj visit his sister Goddess Yamuna’s House. He stayed in his sisters house for 5 days and celebrate with her and ask her sister to make a wish and his sister make a wish of every brother in the world will have a long happy and healthy life if they celebrate this festival, and Yamraj Granted the wish, so this five days is known as Tihar, this Tihar is also known as Yampanchak.
In Bhai Tika, sister and brother put seven colored tika in each others forehead and put Makhamaliful (flower that never fade) Mala in neck. After Tika sister breaks walnut in entrance-way supposing it’s the head of her brothers enemy. After that sister gives gifts to her brother and brother gives money to his sister.