Bijaya Dhakal
Tihar is one of the biggest festivals of Hindu Nepalese people around the world. People have moved to different country in these days and are trying to celebrate Tihar at the best of their knowledge. Most of the cities in countries other than Nepal like UK, USA, Canada, and Australia, have Nepali community organization through which they conduct and celebrate Tihar festival. A Hindu festival ‘Tihar’ is celebrated for five days which is called ‘Yama Panchak. Panchak happens every month” which has astrological meaning when moon travels from zodiac Aquarius and Pisces Signs. ‘Yama’ comes form the name of God of death “Yamaraj”.
Mostly, “Tihar” falls during the month of “Kartik” between by the end of October to second week of November and celebrated for five consecutive days. During tihar, Hindus worship Yamaraj to protect them and their family from death and sickness and worship Goddess Laxmi for prosperity and eliminate poverty. Cow and dog are worshipped because they are saviors from untimely dealth. The day to worship cow is called ‘Gai Tihar’, and the day to worship dog is called ‘Kukur Tihar’. The god Dhanbantari “God of Ayurveda” is also worshipped for early recovery of people who are sick and under treatment.
During the month of Kartik, the sun and moon both has low light and brightness. On the darkest night of this Amavasya, oil lights are illuminated, and Goddess MahaLaxmi of prosperity is worshipped, called Laxmi Pooja day. On this day of Laxmi Pooja, houses are cleaned and decorated with flowers. Rangoli (decoration made my seven assorted colored powder and other worship materials) are made at the entrance of main door, and Laxmi’s footsteps are painted with holy paste made with flour and red vermilion powder. Oil lamps are set alight around the house and main door which believed to develop light or wisdom in our life. Another day, Goveadhan Pooja is conducted because, the Lord Krishna in Dwapar Era, came to save flooding Govardhan in the earth when King Indra was angry trying to make it rain a lot. On the day of Kartik Sukla Pratipada, hindus worship the dandir Bali Raja. On the fifth day, Bhai Tika, Yamaraj, Yamuna and Astachiranjeevi are worshipped along with sisters performing Bhi Pooja (Brothers’ Pooja) for the longevity of brothers. Tihar is incredibly special, religious occasion for brothers and sisters. Sisters visit to brother’s house with hair oil, comb, and sagun to invite brothers for Bhai Tika. It is believed that the oil keeps brothers safe from Yamaraj. Tihar brings siblings together however far they reside. People travel from city to city and country to country to receive tika from sisters.
During Tihar, there is a tradition of going for Deusi-Bhailo, when children and young adults visit house to house, perform dance and sing cultural songs to exchange happiness and to raise money. Out of the raised money, they do community activities such as picnic, movie day or donate to poor and needy. Mothers and sisters cook cultural foods for prasad to offer while doing worshipping. They put aside additional cultural foods to offer deuse (people who comes for deusi-bhailo), sisters offer sweets, fruits, nuts, and other specially prepared cultural food such as Sel Roti ( rounded Nepali bread) and Anarasa (a flat confections made with rice flour and seeds).
Tihar is also called as Deepawali (festival of lights) in Nepal but Hindus inhabiting in India celebrate Diwali, in slightly separate way. Tihar is incredibly unique, religious, and cultural festival which brings immense happiness in our life once a year.