Day 2 - Kukur Tihar - worshiping of dogs - the protector of our homes

Day 3 - Cow Tika - worshiping of cows Day 3 - Laxmi Puja - worshiping of Fortune Goddess Day 3 - Tihar Songs: Bhailini - girls sing an unique song!

Day 4 - Various Puja and Tihar Song: Deusi - boys sing Deusi, a popular Tihar song! Day 4 - Tihar Songs : Deusi - Pujas and singing Tihar's special song

Day 5 - Tika Day (Final Day) - tika for a long life!

The Nepali festival Tihar is also known by many names such as Dipawali or as a festival of lights. It is a five-day festival, soon after the Dashain Festival, and is all about worshiping of different animals and the Hindu Goddess of Fortune or Wealth (Goddess Laxmi), and cooking, brothers and sisters shopping for gifts, flying kites, decorating homes and streets, playing cards with friends, resting and relaxing, and finally ending the festival with an exchange of a special temporary mark on forehead (tika). The last day of the festival is known as Tika day or popularly known as Bhai Tika day (Bhai in Nepali means Brother). Tihar is the festival when sisters wish a long life to their brother!

Tihar is a festival for brothers and sisters, but if you have no sibling you choose a close relative (or failing that a friend or neighbour) as a substitute. Whom ever you made your sister or brother remains so for life, and each year this festival makes your bond stronger. Tihar is the most popular festival in Nepal.
Tihar Day First: Tihar and Crows Early in the morning of the first day of Tihar, family prepares a meal. Each member of the family takes the first portion of the meal outside on a platter. The crows come down in large numbers and share the feast, they call others before beginning to eat : Share, Share what you have with all! Crows (Kag in Nepali) are considered as the messenger of the Lord of Death, Yama. There is a popular Nepali superstition: When the crows caw, sadness is coming.) On this day crows are worshiped and are kept happy. Where there are no crows, any bird will enjoy the feast. Tihar is also about appreciating animals around us.

Tihar Day Two: Tihar and Dogs On the second day of Tihar, Kukur (Dogs) are adorned with flower garlands, red tika on their forehead, and are offered food, they are the king of the day! On this day, people pray to the Kukur to guard their homes. There are lots of stray Kukur, but on this day, even the most unsightly Kukkur will be treated like a king, every dog has a day. Tihar is also about breaking the boundaries only men created, "The Good", "The Bad", "The Ugly"! In Hinduism it is believed that Kukur guards the underworld empire.

Tihar Day Three Tihar and Cows The 3rd day of Tihar is about worshiping the mother of the universe - the cow. According to Hinduism, the human infant is fed breast milk by its human mother but after weaning, the cow acts as the surrogate mother providing milk for the rest of the human life. Cows are the sacred animal. The cow puja is performed by giving a tika to a cow on her forehead, and a flower garland (Flower Leis) on the neck, and offering food. Those performing Cow puja place her manure in different parts of the home, drink a drop or two of the cow's urine, as a part of a purification process. Also dip a blade of grass into the urine and lightly sprinkle it on each other's body to become closer to the mother of the universe - cow. Laxmi Goddess Tihar and Laxmi Puja – day three One of the most important parts of the festival is Laxmi Puja on which day the Goddess of wealth (Laxmi) is worshiped in every household in the entire Kingdom by means of Puja, decoration, candle lights, and oil lamps. In this 3rd day, the entire nation becomes an illumination of lights. Pictures and icons of Laxmi Devi are placed and worshiped in a Puja room (or a place in a living room dedicated for worshiping Gods) Puja is performed using flowers, incense, oil lamps, color-powders, bell and money (both notes and coins). Laxmi puja is performed at dusk using red mud, and puja is often done by a female in the family. She uses her hand covered with red mud to make a symbolic foot-print on the floor entering the home and makes a trail leading to the Puja room. Laxmi puja is also done by businesses. Business-Laxmi-Puja is done exactly the same way as is done in home. Usually the company's cashier performs the puja during which time the entire office including office compounds are lit with various lights including electrical, candle lights, and oil lamps and usually staffs are invited to participate in the puja procession. "Tihar and Songs : Bhailini Songs (3rd Day) The eve of Laxmi Puja Day is made spectacular not only by lights but also by echos of a special song known as Bhailo or Bhailini that's played only on this day in the entire year. A group of girls get together and sing Bhailo door to door, giving blessings to the family in return for money or homemade treats.

Tihar Day Fourth: Tihar and Songs : Deusi Songs (4th Day) Male members sing what is called Deusi or Deusuray in Nepali. You can write just about any Deusi song as long as each line ends with the word `Deusi' or `Deosuray'. A group of males get together, carry what-ever musical instruments they have or can play, and sing Deusi door to door blessing the home and family in return for money and/or refreshments. Teenagers perform various Deosi songs to collect money for a picnic! Some may play Deusi to collect money to build a new trail in a far away village in Nepal. During the Tihar festival the only kind of songs you are most likely to hear from local Radio stations are nothing but Tihar Songs, Bhailo, Deusi and folk songs about sisters or brothers unable to see each other during the festival due to various reasons. A poor sister, now a daughter-in-law may not get even a day's break to visit her brother on this special day, and she might sing a song to make your tears flow!

A Sample of Deusi Song. Bhana Mera Bhaiho Deusuray. (Say it my brothers, Say it. Deusuray) Sormelai Kana Deusuray. (Say it louder and say it in tune. Deusuray) Rato Batoo Deusuray. (Red mud trail. Deusuray) Nepali Madal!Chiploa Batoo Desuray. (Slippery trail. Deusuray) Laddai Paddai Deusuray. (Slipping and Sliding. Deusuray) Akeya Hami Deusuray. (Finally we made it to your home! Deusuray) Yo Garma Laxmi Deusuray. (In this home Lord Laxmi. Deusuray) Sadthai Aun Deusuray. (Always come. Deusuray) Hamilai Denus Deusuray. (Give us what you have money or meal) Bidtha Garnus Deusuray. (Please give us now, say good bye to us, so we sing for next home!)

Tihar and Myself! (4th Day) The fourth day of the Tihar is also about worshiping yourself. This puja (worshiping) is known as as Mahapuja. This is also the first day of the special annual calendar of an ethnic group known as Newar residing in Nepal. The coming of a new year is also celebrated in Tihar. Also a popular ritual of the day is the Govardhan puja or Goru Tihar (Oxen Worshiping). Oxen are worshiped on this day as they till lands and help grow crops to sustain life.

Tihar Day Fifth : Last Day Tihar and Tika On the final day also known as Bhai Tika Day, sisters give tika (a coloured powder placed on one's forehead), and mala (a necklace of flowers or also known as flower leis,) to brothers along with wishes for long life and prosperity. Tihar is also the time to re-call their continued wish for a long and a happy life for their brothers. Brothers sit on a floor while sisters perform their puja. Puja involves following a traditional ritual in which sisters circle brothers three times dripping oil on the floor from a copper pitcher. Afterwards, sisters put oil in brother's ears and hairs, then give Tika. The breaking of walnuts by sisters prior to giving Tika to brothers is also common. Tika starts with placing a banana leave already cut into a line shape placed on the forehead held by one of the sisters, then applying tika base (made from rice paste) in the open space. Then the sister dabs seven colours on top of the base using her fingers or they use a small stick or a brush without the banana leaves. After tika, a flower garland is put around the brother's neck. Then brothers give tika and leis to their sisters in the same fashion. Brothers give gifts such as clothes or money to sisters while sisters give a special gift known as Sagun (which is made of dried fruits and nuts, and candies), and a Tihar feast takes place. 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).

Tika Tika is of seven colors Yellow, Orange, Blue, White, Green, Red and Black. A tika of seven colors is called Sapta Rangi Tika in Nepali, where Sapta means seven, Rangi means colors. The order of the colors in the tika pattern or even the choice of colors will vary due to family traditions. Usually some colors are purchased while others are made at home. The three colors that are usually made at home are, green, white and black. Green is the crushed blades of grass, white is rice paste (raw rice crushed into powder and mixed with water), and black is charcoal powder or also soot from oil lamps. Traditionally, to create a perfect Tika pattern and to make it easier to give tika, leaves of Banana were used, and this tradition still follows in many households. You take a portion of Banana leave, tear a small portion from the center, hold it against the forehead, use the rice paste as a base then dab colors in desired pattern, then remove the banana leave. Tika symbolizes the bond between brothers and sisters.

Tihar Flower Garland is called Malla in Nepali, and is widely used in the Tihar festival. During Tihar, open markets are packed with flowers. Brothers and Sisters often save their flower garland as a souvenir.

Tihar is a time of candlelight, tinsel decoration and festive colored sweets, and more often this festival is also known by the name `Festival of Lights'.

Tihar and Rani Pokharai (Pond) - Rani Pokhara is located at the center of Kathmandu. This famous pond has a small holy temple located at the center. The compound's door is locked all year around except on the day of Bhai Tika. Those who do not have sisters enter the temple to receive tika from priests.

Although Tihar is of five days festival, only 3 days are the official holidays except for schools and colleges. The official holidays are 3rd day of Tihar (Laxmi Puja), Fourth Day of Tihar(Govardha Puja) and the Final Day: 5th Day of Tihar(Tika Day)

Tihar and Cooking - Sisters prepare Nepali food at home for brothers. This includes making of the famous Nepali bread known as Nepali Roti or Sel. It's made by deep frying a mixture of fine rice flour, sugar, and water. The mixture is placed in the frying oil in circle by hand or by the help of a funnel. Nepali Sel Roti is popular for its crispy and crunchy taste. Bunches of Sel Roti are made during Tihar by sisters, and Sel Rotis travel from villages to villages in the bags of brothers!

Tihar and Shopping (Tihar and Sagun!) What do Nepalese shop for during the period? Cooking items such as oil, butter, clothes for gifts, and sweets. In cities, sisters shop for dried fruit products such as cashew, almonds, and fresh fruits in large amount while in villages sisters prepare home-made sweets and breads. The mixture of dried fruits along with sweets and candies are packed usually in a plastic bag, this package is known as `Sagun', This single brand is the most popular item of the season, and you can see it everywhere in open markets! Sagun is given to brothers by sisters on the Tika Day, and in return, brothers give sisters gifts such as new clothes and/or money.

Tihar vs Diwali : Nepali Tihar and Indian Diwali festival are similar in many ways. For example, worshiping of Laxmi Goddess, and celebrating of the festival with candle lights, oil lamps and fireworks are common to both the festivals. Both the festivals are called as Festivals of Lights. Diwali (Dipavali) is also about celebrating the coming of the new year. Tihar also celebrates the coming of the new year (see 4th day of Tihar for more). Celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters are also common to both the festivals.

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