Second greatest festival Tihar being observed

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, October 17

The second day, the very important day of the Tihar (Deepawali) based on Vedic culture, was observed with the worship of Laxmi, goddess of wealth, education and power; and man's faithful companion, the dog with great revelry throughout the country today. Kag (Crow) Tihar was observed yesterday on the first day of the five-day Tihar festival.

Deepawali, after Dashain the second greatest festival of the Hindus, is commonly a five-day festival. However, this year it is of four days. Today is the Dog Tihar but Laxmi Puja also falls on the second half of the day, according to the Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Samitee.

People worship the dog in the morning by preparing special food for dogs and honouring them as Yamadut. Laxmi is worshipped in the evening with homes and streets lit up with clay-lamp and electric lights. People also clean their homes and surroundings to accord her a special welcome. "Laxmi Puja is the festival of lights and flowers, which symbilises the inner light, power and knowledge of human being," said Dr Madhav Prasad Bhattari, president of the NPNS.

Women fast the entire day and break their fast with Laxmi Prasad in the evening. The day is also called ‘Narak Chaturdarshi’ with Naraks being floated down the river at daybreak.Narak (hell) god of death are also worshipped in the festival.

Streets of Kathmandu valley are full of flowers and candles. People are busy in buying the items for the festival. "People worship birds, animals, nature, mountain, human being, death and gods during this festival," said Bhattarai. "This festival is the worship of soul and inner clearance as well as whole existence." Another characteristic of the festival is to enjoy by having sweets and exploding fireworks as an entertainment and celebration.

People will worship cow tomorrow. They worship mountain in the morning on Monday and the Bhaitika, the very day of the festival falls in the noon on the same day. The auspicious time for Tika falls at 11:53 AM on Monday, said astrologer Dr Bhattarai. Sisters put on Tika on the forehead of brothers on the Bhaitika and brothers to sisters. Those who don't have brothers and sisters go to have Tika at Ranipokhari in Kathmandu on Monday.

There is a three day government holiday from Laxmi Puja to Bhaitika throuhout the country. All the government and private offices, schools and campuses remain closed during the festival. People sing and dance by visiting different houses in the evening. "Playing Dhyausi and Bhaili is our culture emanated from thousands of years history. But people are misusing it by collecting donations on the name of the festival," said cultural expert Bhattarai. "This is corruption in the culture."

Deepawali festival coincides with the New Year of Newars (Nepal Sambat), Mha Puja and Chhath Parva, popular festival of the Tarai people. The birthday of Great Poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota also falls on the Laximi Puja day. So this festival is very important among the Nepalese people, said Bhattarai. "Non-Hindus also enjoy this festival by playing swing, cleaning houses and merry making in the society."