Tihar begins today in Nepal

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Tihar begins today

Kantipur Report

Kathmandu

Nov. 7th, 2007

 

Tihar, or Deepawali, one of the Hindu's greatest festivals

began in the country with the observation of Kag-Tihar on

Wednesday. The festival is celebrated from Trayodashi of

Kartik Krishna to Katrik Shukla Dwitiya every year.

 

The five day Hindu-festival is considered to be of great

importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and

the Gods, but also to the animals like crow, cow and the

dog, who maintain an intense relationship with the humans.

Deepawali is also called Yampanchak as it is celebrated for

five days. The first day of the festival is called Kag Parva.

The crow, which is considered messenger for Lord of Death,

Yama Raj is worshipped by offering sweets and delicious

dishes today. The cawing of the crows symbolizes sadness

and grief in the Hindu mythology, so the devotees offer the

crows dishes to avert grief and deaths in their homes.

 

The second day of the festival is Kukur tihar, when the

dogs, considered to be an obedient pet and guard of the

human, are worshipped and offered garlands, tika and

meals.

 

On the third day, the mother of the universe, cow is

worshipped by the Hindus. Cow is considered to be the

surrogated mother of the human as per the Hindu myths, so

they worship her with tika, garlands and fruits on the day.

Laxmi, the goddess of fortune is also worshipped in each

house in the evening on this day. Houses, bazaars and

offices are decorated with colorful papers, lights, lamps and

candles and at evening, goddess Laxmi is worshipped with

flowers, incense sticks, oil lamps, color-powders, bell and

money. The females in the house also make symbolic foot-

prints upto the entrance of the puja room and the house and

pray to make their houses prosperous in the days to come.

 

The hurly-burly in the market is quiet different as compared

to other days of the year. Groups especially of the children

visit houses and shops reciting Bhailo and deusi, special

songs for tihar during evening hours. The sounds of crackers

add charismatic view to the scene of lights, lamps and

candles in the towns and villages.

 

On the last day, also known as Bhai Tika Day, the brothers

are offered tika and garland along with flowers, oil, fruits

and gifts by the sisters, wishing their long age and

prosperity while the brothers give gifts and cash to their

sisters with love.

 

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