The festival of lights; TIHAR is one of the most sparkling and shining festivals of Hindus. The festival symbolizes for the wealth, light, prosperity, and peace; as we worship “Goddess Laxmi” and different appearance of the “Yama”. Throughout the fete the entire Nepalese house, village, cities and country itself will glitter with the decorated lit oil lamps, candles, electric bulbs etc. The night view of the Kathmandu in the day of “Laxmi Puja” is the view never has to miss from the top of the city; “swambu stupa” looks like a sparkling precious bowl.


The deity of wealth, light, wisdom and fortune, luck, beauty and fertility Devi Laxmi is the Mother of the Universe and the Shakri of divine “Lord Vishnu”. The ethnic groups believe that Laxmi is consort to Vishnu, and also married his incarnations Rama, Krishna as Rukmini and venkateshwara as alamelu.

There is an ancient story related about the birth of the Goddess Laxmi. Durvasa the short-tempered sage once cursed Indra, that he and all the gods would lose their power because it had made them so proud and vain. Due to the curse, the demons vanquished the gods out of the heavens. The defeated gods then went to seek refuge to the Creator Lord Brahma who asked them to churn the ocean of milk, to obtain the nectar of immortality. Amongst the host of divine gifts which appeared from the ocean, Goddess Laxmi appeared and then chose Shri Vishnu as her consort, as only He had the power to control Maya (illusion). Because of this, Laxmi is also called the daughter of the sea; since the moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the moon is called her brother.
Goddess Laxmi is incorrectly connected only with money and the general public perception is that she is the Goddess of money. This, however, is only partially correct: the holy Goddess is also the Goddess of prosperity, divinity and purity. She is also the Goddess of Brahma-vidya (divine knowledge) and one of her names is “Vidya” - which literally means knowledge. She is the Goddess of whom we ask for happiness in family, friends, marriage, children, food and wealth, beauty and health. Hence she is a very popular Goddess who is worshipped by every Hindu. As she is the Goddess of prosperity, she is also called as Daridranashini (destroyer of poverty) and Daridradvamshini (one who opposes poverty).

Tihar is basically celebrated in five days. As a Hindu ancient myth suggests tihar as “Yama Panchak” which means “worshiping the different instinct of the Yamaraj in five days”. Especially for the Tihar symbolize the festival of life and prosperity, peace and prosper and happiness.

First Day: Dhan Teras/ Kaag Pooja:
Dhan Means “wealth” and Teras means “13th day”. Thus as the name implies, this day falls on the 13th day of the first half of the lunar month. It is an auspicious day for shopping. This day is also named as ‘Kag Tihar’ or festival of crows. As the day is for crows; they are offered satwik vojan on bota (serving dish made out of leaves) in the early morning before the sun rises. There is a Nepali fairy tale as well behind worshipping crows. It says the crow should not be killed. If one does so, it will drink all the water and the killer will be in thirst throughout the life. It is supposed to be the messenger of Yamaraj, the God of death.

Second Day: Naraka Chaturdasi/Kukur Pooja:
Narak means “of new era of Light and Knowledge”. Chaturdashi implies fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month. This day is also named as ‘Kukur Tihar’, or the festival of Dogs. It is also said Khhicha Puja by the Newars. This is to worship the animal representative of the particular god. As the myth: There is a dog guarding at yamaraj’s gate. The dog is also the steed of the fearful Bhairab, the god of destruction. As the day is for Dog; they are offered satwik vojan in bota.

Third Day: Dipawali/लक्ष्मी Laxmi pooja:
The actual day of celebration, when the moon completely wanes and total darkness sets in the night sky. The day is also known as the gai puja; the festival to worship cows. Cow is also regarded as a form of Goddess Laxmi and all the Hindus worship Devi Laxmi. Early in the morning, the gau mata(meaning cow mother) is worshipped by putting akcheta and chandan on her forehead. As the day is for Cows; she, also the national animal of Nepal, is offered satwik vojan in bota.

Fourth Day: Gobardhan Pooja
There are three different known pujas on this day. Most perform Goru Puja, or Worship of bullocks. People, who follow Krishna, perform Gobardhan Puja, which is worship towards cowdung. Cowdung is seen as very useful in Nepal, as in the olden days it was used for everything from light at night (methane) to polish for the mud floors of traditional houses.

The Newar communities on the night of this day do Mhha Puja, or Worship of Self. Because this period is also the beginning of Nepal Sambat, or the New Year of Nepalese Newars, it ensures prosperity for the New Year. Nepal has many minor community calendars and Nepal Sambat is one of them but the nation follows the Bikram Sambat calendar. The Newar Community people gather and exchange New Year wishes: न्हुँ दया भिंतुना in their language.

Fifth Day: Bhai Tika:
It is the last day of Tihar. It is known as Bhai Tika, a day where sisters put “tika” on their brothers wishing long life, and thank them for the protection they give.
Hence, the festival of illumination, lights and festivities ends with great pomp and show.

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Posted by Binaya Neupane in Photo Blog, News, Opinion on October 19th, 2006  |      4,188 Views     Share This     Print This Post