Tihar Festival

Tihar is a festival which is celebrated by the Hindu people in Nepal. After Bijaya Dashami Tihar is second great festival among the Hindu. Its also called the name of Tipawali or Bhai Tika or Laxmi Puja. It is a five days festival and in this festival people worship different animals as a symbol of divine power, such as crow, dog, cow and worshiping the Goddess Laxmi which is symbol of the wealth, prosperity and fortune. People cook delicious meal and sweet at home, sisters and brothers go for shopping, lying kites, decorating homes and streets, playing cards with friends, resting and relaxing. The last day of the festival is known as Tika day. Tihar is a festival of sisters wishing a long life to their brothers, and brothers provide gifts to their sisters.

In the first day of the tihar crows are worshiped, which is called Kag Tihar, and given different kinds of delicious food. People make fresh their houses and worship crows. Crows are considered as the messenger of Lord of Death, Yama. The second day of this festival is called Dog festival or Kukur Tihar. Dogs are adored with flower garland around their necks, red tika on their forehead, and are offered great delicious meals. In Hinduism it is believed that Kukur guard's the underworld empire just like it guards our everyday homes. In the third day, cows are worshiped. It is called Cow Festival or Gai Tihar. This is also called Laxmi Pooja. Cow is considered as mother in Hindu religion. She gives us milk which is very important for our health. People worship cows on this day with flower garland on the neck and red Tika in forehead. Cows are given delicious food in this day. In the evening time, people worship Goddess Laxmi. She is symbol of the wealth and prosperity according to Hindu religion. In homes, offices, companies and so on places people worship in the idols of Laxmi. They consider that in Laxmi Mata become angry in this day, wealth and prosperity never comes in the home. So, people properly conduct Laxmi Pooja. In the forth day of this festival people organize Deusi and Bhailo. This is a kind of song which is sung in this festival. Specially, young boys and girls visit door to door and sing and dance. They enjoy in this festival very much.
The last day or fifth days of this festival is called Bhai Tika. In this day sisters and brothers get together and celebrate it very joyfully. Sisters give tika and mala (garland) to their brothers. Tihar is also the time to re-call their continued wish for a long and a happy life for their brothers. Then sister dabs seven colors on top of the base using her fingers.ome may give tika with the help of a small stick or a brush without the using banana leaves. In this case, small stick is dipped into the tika base, then brushed vertically on the forehead, then using a different stick, the seven colors are applied on top of the base. After tika, flower garland is put around brother's neck. Then brothers give tika to sisters in the same fashion. Sisters also receive flower garland around their neck. Brothers give gifts such as clothes or money to sisters while sisters give a special gift. Those without a sister or brother, join relatives or friends for tika. Sisters pray for their brother's long life to the Hindu God of Death (Yam Raj). In this way, Tihar festival celebrate in Nepalese society within Hindu culture.