The Tihar, or Deepawali, or Festival of Lights, is the most colorful and most popular festival in Nepal. It is five days long, and Tihar is a festival of joy, gratitude, worship, and friendship. It is of significant cultural, religious, and social importance to the Nepalese people, cutting across ethnic and communal lines. Marked by vibrant decorations, beautiful lights, traditional rituals, music, dance, and feasts, Tihar is a wonderful festival that honors a lineup of gods and animals that hold a special place in Nepalese life and Hindu mythology.
This study blog unfolds the rich tradition, symbolism, rituals, and cultural practices of Tihar in Nepal, which resonates with the spirit of this mass festival and its privileged status in the hearts of Nepalese.
Historical and Cultural Significance of Tihar
Tihar is a Hindu festival observed primarily by Nepal’s Hindus but with universal cultural participation by other societies as well. It is normally celebrated in late autumn, October to November, at the end of the harvest season. Like India’s Diwali, Tihar celebrates light over darkness and good over evil, but is uniquely Nepalese in practice and duration.
The five days of Tihar are spent worshipping different animals, gods, and forces of nature on each day. The days are assigned for worshipping animals, gods, and forces of nature that assist in the growth and protection of human life. The order itself speaks volumes about man’s symbiotic relation with nature and religious closeness that Nepalis share with nature and God.
The Five Days of Tihar: Meaning and Rituals
Day 1: Kaag Tihar (Worship of Crows)
The festival begins with the worshipping of crows, Hindu deities of death and bearers of ill news. Crows, being food-offerers in Nepalese culture, are given food so that they would be full and evil things wouldn’t happen next year. Crows’ food is set on the rooftop or open ground, and family members gather to feed crows and wish they take ill news.
Day 2: Kukur Tihar (Worship of Dogs)
The second day is for the dogs, which are known as guardian and companion animals. Dogs are venerated with garlands, tika (a red dot made from rice and yogurt), and offerings of food. In Hindu mythology, dogs are the symbolic escorts of souls in the afterlife, and the day honours the protective and faithful nature of the animals. The festival commemorates pet dogs and stray dogs and reflects respect for animals.
Day 3: Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja (Worship of Cows and Goddess of Wealth)
The third day is also one of the most significant days. The day begins with the worshiping of cows, which are sacred in Hinduism as they give agricultural assistance, milk, and a means of prosperity.
Night is the time when people perform the Laxmi Puja, invoking Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good luck. Homes and business areas are cleaned and decorated with rangoli, candles, and oil lamps (diyo) to invite the blessings of Laxmi. Some of the customs that are unavoidable are drawing patterns (mandalas) and illuminating homes with piles of diyos to invite the goddess. It is a night of celebration when families pray and burst fire crackers.
Day 4: Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja (Bull and Self-Worship)
The fourth day is a day to worship the bulls or the oxen that play a very significant role in plowing fields and agriculture in rural Nepal. They are adorned with flowers and tika.
This day is celebrated with Mha Puja in Newar community, self-worship for prosperity and good health in the coming year. This is the day of purification and preparation of self for the New Year.
Day 5: Bhai Tika (Worship of Brothers)
The final day is Bhai Tika, the sentimental celebration of brother and sibling relationship. Sisters apply a multi-coloured tika on the forehead of the brother, bless them, and wish them long and prosperous lives. Brothers gift them and pledge to protect them.
The day is passed in a celebratory mood, with reunions at home, big meals, and gift exchanges. The rituals reflect the strong family tie that is accorded high value in Nepalese culture.
Special Tihar and Customs
Lighting and Decoration
The most spectacular aspect of Tihar is the brilliant lighting. Homes, temples, streets, and public areas are adorned with colorful oil lamps, fairy lights, and candles. Light is placed on every doorstep, making the atmosphere warm and cozy as a representation of light dispelling darkness.
Rangoli and Mandalas
There are beautiful rangoli or mandalas hand-drawn designs on the doorsteps and courtyards. They are drawn using rice flour, colored powders, flower petals, and sand. They invite gods and guests. The patterns are intricate and vary from region to region and community to community.
Singing and Dancing: Deusi-Bhailo
It is not complete without the customary Deusi and Bhailo songs and dances. They are sung and danced by groups of young men and women (Deusi and Bhailo) from door to door, blessing the families. They are offered gifts, sweets, and money as return gifts. It is a very old practice that consists of uniting society and providing happiness.
Sweets and Feasting
Tihar is a festive period and a period for sharing sweets. Sweets such as traditional Nepali favorites sel roti (rice flour donut), lada (sweet balls), and other sesame seed and jaggery-based sweets are prepared by families. Sharing sweets and food is a compulsory ritual during celebration, which is a symbol of goodwill and prosperity.
Cultural Variations Across Nepal
Despite the ritual compulsion of Tihar, there is not much variation between most ethnic groups and regions:
- Newar society does actually observe Mha Puja as much on the fourth day, their Nepal Sambat New Year too.
- People’s arts performance and folk culture are part of the festival in some sections of Terai.
- Other than these, the motif of bringing in prosperity, obeisance to nature, and delight in social relations is the same.
Environmental and Social Impact
Tihar stands out in its regard for animals, with special days for the crows, dogs, cows, and oxen, an intrinsic ecological awareness and harmony with nature. Complaints about overindulgence in firecrackers have, however, risen on the back of the air pollution and safety hazard. Less flamboyant, green celebrations are being opted for by most societies today.
The festival also reinforces social ties with the uniting of family members, neighbors, and communities together in shared worship, music, and festivities.
Tihar in Modern Nepal
Modern urban Nepal has adopted Tihar with more dramatic lighting arrangements, celebrations in public spaces, and increased commercialization. However, there are some rural Nepalis and other traditionally Nepali people who continue to follow the ancient traditions religiously and hence continue the true spirit of the festival.
Social media and the internet enable greater involvement and sharing of Tihar’s rich culture, which makes the Nepalese diaspora hold on to their heritage.
How Tourists Celebrate Tihar
Tihar for tourists is a sensory experience of light, color, sound, and warmth. Neighborhood houses and homestays invite tourists to be a part of the family celebrations, learn traditional dance steps, and share a meal.
Temples, piazzas, and public squares throb with energy as thronging energy centers. Visitors are invited to participate respectfully, understanding the significance of each ritual in order to revel all the more.
Conclusion
Tihar is not only a festival but a celebration of nature and the cosmic forces that nurture us. It is a festival that progresses from the worship of animals to the worship of gods and family bonds. Tihar is a manifestation of Nepali values of gratitude, respect, and togetherness. Its golden sunsets and weeping ceremonies are a unique combination of religion, culture, and social harmony that reach out into the lives of millions of people every year.
Whether a donor offering diyos, a child chanting Deusi-Bhailo, or a visitor witnessing the magic for the first time, Tihar provides a deep understanding of Nepalese society and eternal human nature for worshiping light, love, and life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why is it necessary to worship animals during Tihar?
In Tihar, crows, dogs, cows, and oxen are worshiped as a recognition of their position in human society and Hindu mythology. The practice demonstrates respect for nature and the presence of a religious coexistence of unity of animals and human beings, which protects and guides them in all respects.
Q2: Why is Bhai Tika a special day in the Tihar festival?
Bhai Tika celebrates brother-sister relationships. Sisters apply a colorful tika on the brother’s forehead, wish for his long life, and share gifts between them. It symbolizes family relations of love, care, and long life, and hence it is one of the most emotional days of Tihar.
Q3: What are the home preparations during Tihar?
Homes are decorated with colorful rangoli or mandala patterns of dyed powder and rice paste, marigold flowers to make garlands, and numerous oil lamps (diyas). They invite the blessings of Goddess Laxmi and usher in a festive atmosphere of light overcoming darkness.