Tihar Festival (Diwali) in Nepal

Nepal with more than 23 million populations has more than 60 ethnic groups and 70 native spoken languages. Hindu religion dominates the southern part and the hills, the upper high hills and valleys around the Himalayan mountain regions.

Popular Trekking routes During the Tihar Festival:- Langtang Valley Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and Everest Base Camp Trek.

Where villagers are interwoven to Tibetan Buddhism, makes Nepal a fascinating country around South-East Asia. Nepal with two major religions Hinduism and Buddhism, various colorful festivals around the year are celebrated. Nepal is enriched with many different heritage cultures and traditions, making Nepal, the country of festivals.

In Nepal religious and ancient heritage celebration takes place with colorful festival nearly all year round. The major and most important festival events are Dashain or Dashera, including Tihar also known as Diwali. The festival of lights and Marigold flowers that adorns every houses around cities, towns to remote villages.

In Nepal, people celebrate more than 50 festivals, most religious and traditional festivals are held according to Hindu calendar. Based on a chosen auspicious day, especially, set by the astrologers following the lunar calendar.

TIHAR / DIWALI (festival of lights):

Tihar, the festival of lights, also known as Diwali, falls at the end of October or first weeks of November. As per the Hindu lunar calendar set for the occasion on an auspicious time and dates. Tihar or Diwali, is the second biggest festival for all Hindu religion followers in Nepal. It is also celebrated in India across the southern borders of Nepal, with the majority of Hindu’s.

Tihar or Diwali is the festival of lights, where all houses around the cities, towns celebrate. Lighting the houses, courtyard and terraces, with oil lamps and candles. Including fluorescent little bulbs with electricity power, the houses and main door and entrance gates are adorned with Marigold garlands.

Tihar or Diwali Festival is held soon after the big major festival of Dashain or Dashera. Within a two week gap, before the event of Tihar, people are busy shopping for the needful items. The main things purchased are smaller oil lamps, called diyo, as well as candles, tinsel decorations and festive colored sweets.

The Tihar Festival is celebrated for 3-4 days, during the end of autumn season, which will be quite cold. The Tihar or Diwali festival begins with prayer and worship at homes and temples. On different days, there are offerings and small celebrations for domestic animals, and birds namely crows, dogs, cows and oxen. The first day of Tihar is known as Crow or Raven day. The household offers special food served on a fig or banana leaf to the crows and ravens.

The second day of Tihar is followed by dog’s day, all pet dogs are worshiped offering the best foods. As well as offering the dogs marigold garlands and blessing the dogs from evil spirits. The third day during Aausi, a pitched dark night, is the worship of Goddess Laxmi.

This day or night is known as Laxmi Puja, houses are decorated with Marigold garlands and lamps. The bright decoration and cleaning the house and courtyard to welcome the goddess Laxmi. It is known as the goddess of wealth and fortune, Goddess Laxmi is worshiped and prays for the fortune.
On the same night of Tihar the carol singing, girls and women visit door to door of each house. Around their community singing of praise for the wellbeing and wishes the landlord with great fortune and wealth.

The household and landlord presents them by offering gift of money, with special Nepali traditional bread called Sel Roti. The local Newar festival is called Maha Puja, the New Year’s Day according to the Nepal Era. Also falls on the same day of Tihar, especially among the Newari community who celebrate the Maha Puja.

The next day of the festival Tihar is called Gobardhan Puja, worship of oxen, followed by Bhai Tikka. The Nepali boys and men celebrate singing Nepali carol songs in each house and get blessed with money. On the day of Bhai Tikka is a brother’s blessing day, the sister’s offer and bless their brothers.
The ritual of breaking wall nuts, putting garlands and circling around brothers.

Prays and bless the brother’s big or small in order to protect them from Evils and Bad things. Then the sisters prepare and offer the special food to their brothers. After the last day of Bhai Tikka concludes the Tihar or Diwali Festival, and the ceremony till next year.