Tihar Traditions and Rituals: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
Tihar, also known as Diwali, is the second biggest festival in Nepal. It is a five-day festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. Tihar is a time for families and friends to come together and celebrate the good things in life.
Traditions
- Cleaning and decorating homes: On the first day of Tihar, people clean their homes and decorate them with lights and flowers. This is done to welcome the goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
- Worshipping animals and deities: On each day of Tihar, different animals and deities are worshipped. This is a way to show respect for all living things and to ask for their blessings.
- Giving and receiving gifts: Tihar is a time for giving and receiving gifts. Families and friends exchange gifts as a way to show their love and appreciation for each other.
- Playing games and gambling: Tihar is also a time for playing games and gambling. People play games such as cards, dice, and Ludo. Gambling is also popular during Tihar, and people often gamble with money, sweets, and other items.
Rituals
- Tihar Deusi and Bhailo: During Tihar, people go from house to house singing and dancing to traditional Tihar songs. This is known as Tihar Deusi and Bhailo.
- Tihar Fireworks: Fireworks are displayed all over Nepal during Tihar.
- Tihar Food: People prepare special Tihar food during the festival, such as sel roti, yamari, and sweets.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to celebrate Tihar in Nepal:
Day 1: Kaag Tihar
- Crows are worshipped on the first day of Tihar. Crows are seen as messengers of Yama, the god of death. People believe that by worshipping crows, they can avoid bad luck and misfortune.
- Rituals on Kaag Tihar include offering food and flowers to crows, lighting oil lamps, and singing and dancing.
Day 2: Kukur Tihar
- Dogs are worshipped on the second day of Tihar. Dogs are seen as guardians of the home. People believe that by worshipping dogs, they can protect their homes from evil spirits.
- Rituals on Kukur Tihar include offering food and garlands to dogs, washing dogs, and putting red tika on their foreheads.
Day 3: Gai Tihar
- Cows and oxen are worshipped on the third day of Tihar. Cows and oxen are seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity. People believe that by worshipping cows and oxen, they can bring good luck and prosperity to their homes.
- Rituals on Gai Tihar include offering food and flowers to cows and oxen, washing cows and oxen, and putting red tika on their foreheads.
Day 4: Laxmi Puja
- Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is worshipped on the fourth day of Tihar. This is the main day of Tihar.
- Rituals on Laxmi Puja include cleaning homes and businesses, decorating them with lights and flowers, offering food and flowers to Laxmi, and praying for her blessings.
Day 5: Bhai Tika
- Sisters apply a special tika (mark) on their brothers’ foreheads on the fifth and final day of Tihar. This tika is believed to protect brothers from evil spirits and to bring them good luck.
- Rituals on Bhai Tika include sisters applying tika on their brothers’ foreheads, brothers giving gifts to their sisters, and families and friends coming together to celebrate.
Conclusion
Tihar is a joyous and festive occasion that is celebrated by people of all ages in Nepal and other parts of the world. It is a time for families and friends to come together and celebrate the good things in life. Tihar is also a time to reflect on the importance of light, hope, and love.
