Tihar Facts for Dummies
- The festival of lights also known as ‘tihar’,’deepawali’ or ‘diwali’, is the second largest cultural festival for hindus in Nepal.
- It is a five day festival celebrated in the late autumn. The five days goes by celebrating kaag(crow) tihar on the first day, kukur(dog) tihar(on the second day),laxmi pooja(on the third day),govardan pooja or mha pooja (on the fourth day),and ending tihar with bhaitika(on the fifth day).
- On the first day, crows are worshipped and fed early in the morning.peole worshio them in the faith of bringing good luck to themselves.
- The second day is dedicated to a man,s bestfriend, the dog. The dogs in the houses and on the streets are worshipped by putting a red tika in their forehead and a garland and are given food. It is the day of basically thanking the dogs for safeguarding us and our properties.
- The next day , laxmi pooja is considered as the main day of tihar. On that day, early in the morning, cows are worshipped cows are considered holy in hindu religion because she provides a whole family with her milk like a mother. And in the evening with all the lights , diyos and candles lit up with rangolis and flowers,making the houses bright and beautiful, people worship goddess laxmi(godess of wealth, fortune and prosperity).
- Along with tht groups of people specially ladies and kids visit every house singing and dancing to the most popular bhailo songs asking for money and food as blessings. It is a culture that has been there from the beginning of time.
- However, on this day people gather and play deusi instead of bhailo. Deusi song is more for men wheres bhailo is for women traditionally speaking. T
- he next day is followed by govardan pooja and mha puja. in the govardan poojaow some might also call it goru tihar, oxen are worshipped along with small stacks of cow dung as they are also considered holy in hindu religion. In the night, the newar community perform mha puja which is worshipping one self. This is done to purify oneself. It is also marked as the beginning newari new year.
- On the last day, we peform bhaitika. Bhaitika is a ritual where brothers are worshipped by their sisters and they wish for the longitivity of their lives.
- People also gamble alot in Tihar. There also cases where people have gone bankrrupt during Tihar.