Tihar or “Yamapanchak,” which literally means—five days of the underworld lord, Yamara, is the feast celebrated in almost all part of the country, but Kathmandu valley has its own unique mode of its celebration due to presence of Newar community. Decorated, clean and illuminated buildings, houses, streets with various types of unblemished lights, candle and oil lamp is the very gorgeous part of this festival. People worship the goddess of wealth, Laxmi and an ethnic group, Newar has special ritual of worshipping their own body which is called ‘Mha Puja’. According to Newari calendar—it is the new year of “Nepal Sambat”. Showing reverence to animals like crow, dog, and cow is another characteristic feature of this festival unlike other festivals where only gods are worshipped. Delicious foods and sweets are prepared in every home, so Tihar is also called festival of sweets. Another specialty of this festival is ritual of brothers being worshipped by sisters with wishes of long life and prosperity of brothers.

Let us observe each day of the Yamapanchak rather closely.

Day 1 : Kag Tihar
The first day of Tihar is “Kag (crow) Tihar”. On this day, crow is worshipped. Crow is regarded henchman of the underworld Lord, Yamaraj. People bath in the early morning and cook delicious foods for them as well as for crows. Although crow is regarded inauspicious, it is worshipped and offered delicious food on this day. According to Hindu myths, the cawing of crow signifies the grief and sadness, so to avoid the sadness and grief, people worship crows. In other words, people adore crows for avoiding bad luck and bringing good luck.

Kukur Tihar

Day 2: Kukur Tihar
Kukur (Dog) Tihar (Khicha Puja in Newari) is the second day of Tihar. On this day, people adore the very loyal and best friend of humans, i.e., dogs and are specially treated on this day. The dogs are worshipped and ornamented offering red tika on the forehead and flower garlands around the neck and are fed delicious foods. According to Hindu mythology, dogs are another henchman and loyal guard of lord of underworld, Yamaraj. Additionally, the dogs are also considered as the stallion of the terrified god Vairab, god of annihilation. Thus, the dogs are worshipped on this day. Kukur Tihar is also observed as Narak Chaturdashi remembering the victory of the God Krishna over the demon of filth, Narakasur. People wake up before dawn and go to nearby rivers, take a dip and light oil lights and let them float and take away by the river. Doing this they believe they will be in safe side from going to hell.

Day 3: Gai Tihar or Laxmi Puja
Gai Tihar (Saa puja in Newari), is the third day of Tihar. On this day, people worship cow. The cow is regarded as the representative of goddess Laxmi. After bath, people prepare delicious foods. They ornament cows by tika on their forehead and colors all over her body. They offer flower leis around her neck, offer sweets and delicious foods to her. Again, people clean their houses with extra labor on this day and wipe various part of their house with Rato Mato (red clay) and cow dung. Not only this, people sprinkle a drop or two of her urine in their body. Hindus regard cow’s urine as very pristine and is used to sprinkle in order to purify in events like funeral, name giving day, and on other holy occasions. On this day, the Rakshya Bandhan which they had tied on their wrists in “Janai Poornima” is tied on cow’s tail. It is believed that if one does so, the cow will help to cross the “Baitarani River” (an imaginative river that separates hell from heaven).

In the evening, using red clay and cow dung a line is made from outside to inner section of the home where goddess Laxmi is going to be worshipped. People believe goddess Laxmi will enter the home through this line. Lights are lit, candle lights and oil lights (diyo) and even electric lights. After this illumination, people worship goddess Laxmi and offer various fruits and sweets to her. Young girls start roaming around by singing Bhailini, (a special song of girls singing during Tihar). In return, people offer money, fruits and Selroti (special kind of Nepali bread) to them.

Day 4: Mha Puja (worshiping of own body) or Gobhardan/Goru Puja
The fourth day of Tihar is known as Goru Puja and oxen are worshipped on this day. Oxen are very important for farmers of Nepal as they are only animal to aid them to plough fields. Also, Goberdhan puja is done on this day. A hill like structure is made of cow dung and is worshipped considering it as Goberdhan Hill. Among Newari ethnic group, this day is more special because of Mha Puja and the New Year of Nepal Sambat (Nepal Era). The people who are from Newar community only celebrate the day as Mha Puja (worshiping of own body). They make special kind of Mandala (Manda in Newari), decorating with various flowers, sweets, fruits, Mala (garland) and Ita (special kind of thread made to burnt as symbolizing the life span of the one). People also accept Shagun (dish consisting egg, fish, fruits, meat, sweets etc.) by the elder female members of the house. The process is meant to purify the own body. Moreover, the day is also celebrated as the beginning of Nepal Sambat, New Year of Newar’s.

In the evening, young boys start roaming around by singing Deusi (a special song of boys singing during Tihar). ). In return, people offer money, fruits and Selroti (special kind of Nepali bread) to them.

Bhai Tika

Day 5: Bhai Tika
The final day of Tihar is known as Bhai Tika. Due to this day’s specialty, the festival is also known as the festival of brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters offer tika which consists of seven colors (Sapta-rangi Tika) to their brothers and also offer fruits, nuts, and sweets. Garland made up of Makhamali (Globe amaranth or Gomphrena globosa) is used. Use of Makhamali carries a meaning here. Sisters by offering Makhamali garland to brothers wish their long life as Makhamali does not wither they mean their brothers’ life never would wither. They also offer Shagun (made of dried fruits and nuts, and candies) to their brothers and wish for their long life with the god of Death, Yamaraj and in return they will get gifts and money from brothers.

On this day, Rani Pokhari Temple (located at the centre of Kathmandu) is opened for those who don’t have brother or sister. This is the only day the temple is opened publicly.

New Year: It is known as “Navavarsha” in Nepal. Nepal has its official calendar that begins from the first day of the first month Baisakh. This very first day is observed as Nepali New Year which usually falls in the second week of April. People go for picnics, have get-togethers and celebrate the day socializing in various ways as this day is also a national holiday.

Lhosar (Tibetain New Year): This is the New Year of the Tibetans and Sherpas of Nepal which falls in February. The Buddhist monasteries in Kathmandu like Boudhanath and Swayambhunath are decorated with eye catching colorful prayer flags pulling the crowd. The people perform their traditional dances and welcome their New Year with feasts and family gatherings wearing all the new clothes and finest jewelries and exchanging gifts.

Saraswati Puja: Saraswati Puja or Shree Panchami is a day to celebrate the birthday of Saraswati – the Goddess of Learning. This is a day when people from school students to scholars worship their pens and books to please the Goddess and expect her favor in their studies so they become wise and knowledgeable. People also throng around the idol of Goddess Saraswati, especially in Swayambhunath and offer flowers, sweets, fruits, etc. On this day, small children are taught to read and write and people write on the stones and slabs with chalks and pencils. This day which falls between January/February is regarded as a very auspicious day for marriages too as it is believed that Goddess Saraswati herself blesses the couples. Normally it is the astrologers who fix the marriage date and time in Nepal.

Maha Shivaratri: Great night of Lord Shiva;

Every festival in Nepal traditionally begins with something religious and proceeds with spontaneous sprit.
Our festivals are rooted in history, mythology and religion. They honour and propitiate the multitude of gods and control malicious spirits.

Holi Festival

Ghode Jatra (Festivals of Horses): This festival takes place between March/April and a grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel. Although this festival does not have much of religious aspects, a large number of people, even from outside Kathmandu flock around Kathmandu to witness the horse race and other exciting sports activities performed by the Army in the presence of the King and the Royal family.

Buddha Jayanti: Buddha’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year during May in Nepal. On this day people swarm in Swayambhunath and Boudhanath to pay homage to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birth place in Lumbini and chant prayers and burn butter lamps. Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautam but he abandoned his luxurious life when he realized the misery of mankind and went in search of enlightenment.

Gai Jatra (Cow Festival): This festival of cow is celebrated every year in August/September. This is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal as it is full of humor, satire, comedy, mockery and shades of sadness too at the same time. And on this day satires and jokes on anybody is legal. As per the tradition, the family who has lost a relative during the past one year must take part in a procession by sending young boys in cow like attire and walk through the streets of Kathmandu lead by a cow. Cow is regarded as a Goddess and it is also the national animal of Nepal. This festival also purges many who have lost their loved ones as they get to console themselves as to they are not the only ones who have been bereaved and it also teaches to accept death as a part of life.

Krishna Janmastami: KThe birth anniversary of Lord Sri Krishna, believed to be the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu falls sometime in August/September. All the devotees assemble in Krishna Mandir, the ancient Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square and other temples with the idol of Sri Krishna and offer prayers, flowers, food, sweets and chant hymns too.

Teej: This is a Hindu married woman’s day for her man. This festival is celebrated in August/September. Women clad in beautiful red saris with shining potes (glass beads), singing and dancing is the sight almost everywhere in Nepal during the festival of Teej. On this day women observe a fast and pray Lord Shiva for the long, healthy and prosperous life of their husbands and their families. The unmarried women also observe this festival with unabated zeal with the hope that they will get to marry good husbands. From early dawn, women queue up in the multiple lines in Pashupatinath to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.

Indra Jatra: This festival named after Lord Indra- the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven is celebrated by both the Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal in August/September. This festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing. The chariot of Kumari – the Living Goddess is taken through the main streets of Kathmandu with much fanfare. On the first day, the King of Nepal also pays homage to Goddess Kumari. The crowd of excited people from performers to spectators engulfs the streets of Kathmandu during this festival. People get to enjoy various classical dances like elephant dance, lakhe – a very popular dance of a man with a mask.

Tihar: This festival of lights that falls between October/November is the second biggest festival after Dashain. This festival lasts for five days and people worship Laxmi – the Goddess of Wealth. All the houses are cleaned and decorated with the belief that Goddess Laxmi will enter the house that is the cleanest and people lit candles, oil lamps and other lights and the whole place looks illuminating. During the five days, crows, dogs and cows are worshipped and honored with vermilion, garland and delicious food for what they have done in the lives of humans. Crows are regarded as the messenger that brought news even during the times when there were no postmen and no postal services. Dogs are the most obedient animals and they guard our house as true guardians. Cow is also a symbol of wealth in Hinduism and she is also the national animal of Nepal. During Tihar, the Newari community in Nepal also observes Mha puja – a ritual of worshipping one’s own body and life. On this very day, the Newari New Year which is also known as Nepal Sambat begins. The festival ends with Bhai Tika – brothers’ day when his sisters worship him for his long and healthy life to safeguard the lives of his sisters. This is also a gambling time in Nepal as gambling is not illegal during this festival.

Dashain (Bijaya Dashami): During the month of Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood.