How Tihar Festival is Celebrated in Nepal | Dewali 2024

Tihar festival is the largest national festival and celebrated after Dashain in Nepal. It is the festival of flowers and light and celebrated for 5 days. It is celebrated in Kartik Month from Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha to Dwitiya of Shukla Paksha. Along with Nepal, Tihar is also celebrated in the various province of India and by the people worldwide following Hinduism.

Laxmi Puja Tihar festival in Nepal

Tihar Festival

On Tihar, we worship animals like crow, dog, cow and ox. It teaches us a lesson to maintain harmony between human beings and other living beings in nature. It teaches us to respect the law of nature. Also, on Bhai-Tika of Tihar, the brother receiving’s belief is that’s Tika from sister and sister pray for the long and healthy life of her brother. It creates the relationship between brother and sister warm and stronger. It also teaches us the lesson that the whole world exists only in love.

2024 Tihar Festival Date Time in Nepal

Tihar festival starts from October 29, 2024, whereas it is on Kartik 13, 2081 in Nepal.

Tuesday, Kartik 13, 2081Kag Tihar
Wednesday, Kartik 14, 2081Kukur Tihar
Thursday, Kartik 15, 2081Gai Tihar | Laxmi Puja
Friday, Kartik 16, 2081Goru puja or Gobardhan Puja
Saturday, Karthik 17, 2081Bhai Tika


Celebrated by: Hindu people
Celebrated at: All over Nepal on the month of Kartik according to Nepali Calendar

Also Read: Chhat Puja, Nepal Big Festival after Tihar

Why Tihar Festival Celebrated

There are different beliefs about the origin of Tihar. The most famous beliefs are “the story of Yamaraj and Yamuna” and “the story of the king and the serpent”. In the story of Yamaraj and Yamuna, Lord Vishnu being satisfied by the good deeds of King Bali; gave permission to rule the three Lok (universe) for five days. Due to this, Yamaraj remains free for five days. During that time, he decided to visit his sister the Yamuna. After seeing his brother, she became so glad and did her best to make her brother pleased for 5 days. So, Tihar is also known as “Yamapanchak,” i.e. the five days of Yamaraj.

Another story behind celebrating Tihar festival

Another Hindu belief is that one day the King was told that the bite of the serpent would die him. Due to fear, the King commanded to lit light all over his Kingdom. This incident happens on the day of Lakshmi Puja. Being so pleased Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth) saves King’s life by preventing him from the snake. Knowing this, the King set tradition to lit lights the Lakshmi Puja day, and tradition is followed still at present.

How People Celebrate Tihar festivals in Nepal

On this day each and every house are lightened up with lights and flowers. People play deusi-bhailo and perform fireworks. Also, people visit different temples and worship different gods and goddesses during this occasion. This all makes the Tihar festival full of rejoicement.

Days 1Kag Tihar
Days 2Kukur Tihar
Days 3Gai Tihar | Laxmi Puja
Days 4Goru puja or Gobardhan Puja
Days 5Bhai Tika

Kaag Tihar (Days 1)

Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha: This is the 1st day of the Tihar festival. On this day, the crow is worshipped so this day is known as “Kaag Tihar”. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Yamaraj assigned crow to send the message of death. So, on this day, crows are fed with delicious food to prevent the family members from bad omen throughout the year.

Kukur Tihar | Nepal Dog Festival (Days 2)

Dog Worship day Kukur Tihar, Nepal dog festival


Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha: This day is known as Kukur Tihar (Nepal dog festival) as the dog is worshipped on this day. The dog is treated as the symbol of faithfulness and followers of the path of truth. The dog is treated as an impeccable animal in the Hindu religion. On this day, dogs are worshipped by offering Tika, garlands of Sayapatri flowers, and delicious food. Among four Vedas of Hindu religion, Rig Veda states that Yamaraj kept a dog to guard the path to his residence. So, the dog is worshipped on this day with the belief to prevent any unexpected death of family members and from bad omen.

Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja (Days 3)

Prathama of Shukla Paksha: This day is also known as “Gai Tihar” as the cow is worshipped on this day. This day is also known as “Gai Tihar” as the cow is worshipped on this day. In the very morning, people take a bath and worshipped cows by offering Tika, garlands and sweets, and fruits.

Gai Tihar, Laxmi puja

The cow is treated as another form of Goddess Lakshmi. People also keep the coins at the four feet of a cow with the belief that it attracts wealth in the family and brings prosperity. Also, people enter between the feet of the cow with the belief that it would clear their sins and cleansed their souls. Also, it is believed that worshipping cows on this day pleases the divine Goddess Kamdhenu (the mother of all cows) and fulfills the wish and desires of her devotee. Due to these beliefs slaughtering of a cow in Nepal is strongly prohibited.

Laxmi Puja

On the evening of this day, people worshipped Goddess Lakshmi and welcomed her by decorating their house with lights and flowers. In the front of the house, people make beautiful art in different colors. The red clay “rato mato” is used to make a path for Goddess Lakshmi to enter the house and prepared a sacred place “puja-than”. People worship Goddess Lakshmi in this sacred place offer her sweets, fruits, and the most delicious “sel- roti”. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped to bring wealth and prosperity to the family. On this day, different mantras related to Goddess Lakshmi were chanted, and the whole night was spent on her devotion.

Laxmi Puja Mantra for Diwali

On this day, the girls play “Bhailo” by visiting the various houses of the community. They sing various songs and perform a dance. In return, the house owner offers Tika and Sayapatri garland to the “Bhailini” group along with money, fruits, rice, sel-roti in the basket. It is believed that King Bali sent the girls to play Bhailo and pleasing these Bhailini groups make King Bali happy and fulfil the wish and desires of his devotees.

Also Read: Latest Happy Diwali Wishes and Greetings

Goru puja / Gobardhan Puja (Days 4)

On this day the ox is worshipped so-known as “Goru Puja” as it has a close relationship with the human being and helps in ploughing field. According to Hindu mythology, on this day, Lord Krishna (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) saved the people of Gokul from the catastrophic rainfall held by Lord Indra (King of Heaven) by lifting the Goverdhan Mountain (mountain of cow dung). So, this day is also celebrated as “Goverdhan Puja”. In the village area, people apply the paste of cow dung and mud on the floor of a house on this day.

This day is also very important to the people of the Newari community. They perform “Mha Puja” which means self-worship on this day. Also, the new year of Nepal Sambat starts from this day. In local dialect, they called this day as “Nhu Daya Bhintuna” which means happy new year.

Also, in the evening the male group plays “Deusi”. The activities performed are similar to “Bhailo”, but the only difference is that a male group plays Deusi and Bhailo is played by the female group.

Bhai Tika (Days 5)

Dwitiya of Sukla Paksha: This is the most propitious day of the Tihar. This day is known as “Bhai Tika”. The activities performed on this day have their hidden and exciting meaning. The “Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti sets the favorable time to perform Bhai Tika every year”. This day is celebrated to follow the example set by Yamaraj and Yamuna. On this day sisters pray for prosperity and longevity of life brothers.

On Bhai Tika, at first water from Karuwa (Jug) with Dubo (grass) is given to brother and brother drink some portion of this water and somewhere sprinkle on the forehead. This is performed to cleanse the soul of the brother.

Then, she surrounds the brother’s place spreading oil with Dubo grass and then with water from the Karuwa with Dubo. This is performed with the belief to protect the brother from bad omen.

Bhai Tika Tihar Festival in Nepal

After that, the sister worships the sacred place of God in the house. Then, she spread Sayapatri flowers to the brothers. Then she put seven colors Tika known as “Saptarangi Tika” on the brother’s forehead. She then provides Sayapatri garland, Makhamali garland to the brothers. Then, she put oil in the ear of the brothers. Then she put “Dhaka Topi” on the brother’s head. This all is performed with the belief that it brings healthy life and prosperity to brother’s life.

Then, she touches the head, shoulders, and the knee of the brothers with walnut, flowers in the Tapari, and then she took the walnut with Tapari out of the house and broke that with stone. Brothers should not see this activity. This activity is performed with the belief that it destroys the foes of the brothers and clears hurdles in the life of the brothers and brings success in the brother’s life.

Then, she gives the tray of foods such as Lalmohan, walnut, ladoo, eggs, meat, drinks to the brother. Then brother touches the feet of the sister and receives a blessing from her. After that, its brother’s turn to put Tika on the forehead of a sister. Then, he provides money, beautiful gifts such as clothes, and precious jewelry to his sister. Then he touches his sister’s feet and receives a blessing.

All these activities help to strengthen the relationship between brothers and sisters. Finally, with the ending of Bhai Tika, Tihar ends officially.

Happy Tihar From Yatra TV!!!

Leave a Comment