Tihar

It is also a main festival of Hindus. It is a colorful festival of lights. It is the second greatest festival of Nepal after Dashain. The celebration takes place for five days in late October or early November. It is held in the houour of lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after a long exile of 14 years. It starts with offering of bhat (rice) to the crows which are thought to be sent by Yama, the god of death. The crow is regarded as the messenger of death.


On the second day, dogs are honoured or worshipped with garlands of flowers and tikas. The street and dogs, which are often kicked, are honoured on this day hoping that the dog leads the departed soul after death to cross the “River of dead or death”. The dog is also taken as the vehicle of lord bhairab. On third, day cows are worshipped by painting one horned yellow and the other gold. In the evening, Dipawali is observed by lighting palas, lamps, candles and bulbs everywhere to make the goddess laxmai happy. It is believed that laxmai comes to visit every house in the evening. Similarly, on the fourth day, bullocks are honored. Their dung is also worshipped. Day 5 is known as bhai tika. On this day, brothers while the brother give money or gifts to their sister in return. This brother-sister relation is believed to take place since Yamuna brought back from the god of death-Yama.

In this day most of the children and young, guys play with fireworks or patakas. It not only causes fire and sounds pollution but also get people frightened. They waste millions of rupees in a short period. Likewise, gambling also ruins the people’s status and property. To sum up, since the festival reflects the cultural life of the nation, it is significant in many ways.