Tihar: Nepal’s Festival of Lights and Animals

A five-day celebration honoring the sacred bond between humans, animals, and nature

While much of South Asia celebrates Diwali with fireworks and festivities, Nepal observes Tihar—also known as Yama Panchak—a unique five-day festival that stands apart for its profound reverence for animals and the natural world. This celebration, falling in the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November), transforms the entire nation into a tapestry of marigold garlands, glowing oil lamps, and heartfelt rituals that honor everything from crows to siblings.

The Sacred Origins

Tihar finds its roots in ancient Hindu mythology, particularly in the legend of Yama, the god of death, and his sister Yamuna. According to tradition, Yamuna’s unwavering love and devotion prevented her brother’s death, establishing the sacred bond celebrated on the final day of the festival. The festival also intertwines with the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, making it a time when spiritual devotion meets earthly gratitude.

The name “Yama Panchak” translates to “the five days of Yama,” reflecting the belief that during this period, the god of death visits the earth, making it an auspicious time to honor life, relationships, and the creatures that share our world.

Day One: Kaag Tihar (Crow Worship)

The festival begins with an unusual but deeply symbolic ritual—the worship of crows. In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, crows are considered messengers between the earthly realm and the world of the dead. Their distinctive cawing is believed to carry news from beyond.

On this day, early in the morning before anyone in the household eats, families place offerings of rice, sweets, and other delicacies on rooftops, in courtyards, and on leaf plates specifically for crows. The act of feeding these birds is believed to avert grief, misfortune, and bad news throughout the year. The crow’s acceptance of the offering is considered particularly auspicious, a sign that ancestors are pleased and that the family will be protected from sorrow.

Day Two: Kukur Tihar (Dog Worship)

Perhaps the most visually striking and emotionally touching day of Tihar is Kukur Tihar, dedicated entirely to dogs—both pets and strays. This day recognizes the dog’s role as humanity’s loyal companion and, in Hindu mythology, as the guardian of Yama’s gate to the afterlife.

The celebration begins early as families seek out dogs to honor. Each dog receives a special tika made from red powder, rice, and yogurt applied to their forehead, along with a beautiful marigold garland draped around their neck. The dogs are then treated to elaborate meals featuring meat, milk, eggs, and special dog food—often the finest meal many street dogs receive all year.

The sight of stray dogs throughout Nepal adorned with bright orange marigolds has become iconic, drawing international attention to this compassionate tradition. Animal shelters and rescue organizations also participate, ensuring that even the most vulnerable dogs experience this day of honor. The message is profound: every living being, regardless of status or circumstance, deserves respect and care.

Day Three: Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja

The third day carries dual significance, beginning with Gai Tihar in the morning and culminating in Laxmi Puja after sunset.

Morning – Gai Tihar (Cow Worship): Cows hold sacred status in Hindu culture, symbolizing abundance, purity, and motherhood. In agrarian Nepal, cows have been central to survival, providing milk, dairy products, and agricultural labor. On this morning, cows are bathed, garlanded with flowers, and fed special treats. Like the dogs before them, they receive tikas on their foreheads and are honored with prayers. In rural areas, farmers take special care to thank their cows for their contribution to the family’s livelihood.

Evening – Laxmi Puja: As evening falls, the festival’s focus shifts to Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, prosperity, and abundance. This is when Tihar most closely resembles Diwali celebrations in India.

Preparation for Laxmi Puja begins days in advance. Homes are thoroughly cleaned, swept, and decluttered—both as a practical matter and a spiritual one, as it’s believed that Lakshmi will only enter clean, welcoming spaces. On the evening itself, homes and streets are illuminated with thousands of oil lamps (diyas), candles, and electric lights. The flickering flames are meant to guide the goddess to each household.

Women and girls create intricate rangoli designs—colorful patterns made from rice flour, colored powders, and flower petals—at doorways and entrances. These geometric and floral designs, often featuring footprints symbolizing Lakshmi’s path into the home, are both artistic expressions and spiritual invitations.

The puja itself involves offering flowers, fruits, sweets, and incense to Lakshmi’s image while reciting prayers and mantras. Families gather to sing devotional songs, and the sound of bells and traditional music fills neighborhoods. Businesses also perform Laxmi Puja, seeking blessings for prosperity in the coming year.

In the evening, groups of young girls go door-to-door performing Bhailo—singing traditional songs and dancing in exchange for money, food, or treats. Boys perform a similar tradition called Deusi. These groups bring joy and community spirit to the neighborhoods while earning modest rewards.

Day Four: Goru Tihar and Mha Puja

The fourth day honors oxen (Goru Tihar), the hardworking bovines that have been indispensable to Nepali agriculture for millennia. Like cows, oxen are garlanded, fed special food, and blessed. Farmers express gratitude for these animals’ tireless labor in plowing fields and transporting goods, acknowledging that their prosperity is directly tied to these creatures’ strength.

Mha Puja – A Unique Newari Tradition: For Nepal’s Newari community, the fourth day holds additional significance as they celebrate Mha Puja, one of the most important festivals in the Newari calendar. “Mha” means “self” or “body,” making this literally “worship of the self.”

This deeply philosophical ritual emphasizes self-respect, self-care, and the recognition that one must honor oneself to properly honor others. It also marks the Newari New Year (Nepal Sambat).

The Mha Puja ceremony involves elaborate preparations. A sacred mandala is created on the floor using colored powders, rice, and other materials. Each family member sits in front of their own mandala while prayers are recited. The ritual includes:

• Placing a special selection of items including boiled eggs, fish, meat, lentils, and sweets on the mandala
• Lighting oil lamps to represent the inner light of consciousness
• Applying oil to the body as a purification ritual
• Receiving blessings from elders
• Family members honoring each other’s presence and worth

The ceremony affirms that self-love and self-respect are not selfish but necessary—you cannot pour from an empty cup. It’s a beautiful recognition of individual worth within the collective celebration.

Day Five: Bhai Tika (Brother-Sister Bond)

Tihar concludes with Bhai Tika, the most emotionally significant day for many Nepalis. This day celebrates the sacred bond between brothers and sisters, rooted in the legend of Yamuna protecting her brother Yama from death through her love and devotion.

The ceremony is elaborate and deeply symbolic. Sisters prepare throughout the morning, gathering materials including:

• Seven colors of tika powder
• Oils for the ritual
• Flower garlands
• Special foods and sweets
• Makhamali flowers (a type of globe amaranth)

Brothers arrive at their sisters’ homes, or if they live together, gather in a designated sacred space. The sister creates a protective circle around her seated brother using mustard oil. She then performs the ceremony:

1. The Seven-Colored Tika: Unlike the simple red tika of other occasions, the Bhai Tika features seven colors applied in a long, distinctive pattern down the brother’s forehead. Each color holds symbolic meaning representing different aspects of life and protection.
2. Oil Blessing: The sister anoints her brother with oil, applying it to his hair and body as a gesture of care and protection.
3. Garland: A fresh flower garland, typically of marigolds and makhamali, is placed around the brother’s neck.
4. Prayers and Offerings: The sister places her hands on her brother’s head and recites prayers for his longevity, prosperity, health, and happiness. She offers him sweets, fruits, and selroti (a traditional sweet fried bread).
5. Breaking the Oil Circle: The brother exits the protective circle by stepping over it, symbolizing his sister’s protection extending beyond the ritual.

In return, brothers offer their sisters gifts—traditionally money, jewelry, or clothes—and promise to protect and support them throughout their lives. The exchange represents mutual love, respect, and the commitment to stand by each other through all circumstances.

For brothers and sisters separated by distance, the longing to reunite for Bhai Tika is profound. It’s common for Nepalis working abroad to make every effort to return home for this day, making it one of the busiest travel periods in Nepal. When physical reunion isn’t possible, families conduct the ceremony remotely through video calls, adapting tradition to modern circumstances while maintaining its emotional significance.

Cultural Significance and Modern Observance

Tihar represents more than religious ritual—it embodies a worldview that recognizes the interdependence of all life. By honoring animals, the festival teaches respect for creatures often taken for granted. By worshipping the self, it promotes mental and emotional well-being. By celebrating sibling bonds, it strengthens family connections that form society’s foundation.

In contemporary Nepal, Tihar has retained its traditional essence while embracing some modern elements. LED lights join oil lamps, social media spreads images of adorned dogs to the world, and animal welfare organizations use Kukur Tihar to raise awareness about treating animals humanely year-round.

The festival has also become a point of cultural pride and identity, distinguishing Nepal’s traditions from those of neighboring India. For the Nepali diaspora worldwide, Tihar represents a connection to homeland and heritage, with communities organizing celebrations even thousands of miles from the Himalayas.

Environmental and Ethical Dimensions

Tihar’s emphasis on nature and animals resonates strongly with contemporary concerns about environmental conservation and animal welfare. The festival’s inherent message—that humans are part of a larger web of life—aligns with modern ecological thinking.

Animal welfare organizations in Nepal have embraced Kukur Tihar as an opportunity to promote year-round kindness to animals, advocating for better treatment of street dogs, supporting spay-neuter programs, and encouraging adoption. The global attention the festival receives has helped raise awareness about animal issues in Nepal and beyond.

Similarly, the emphasis on natural materials—oil lamps, flower garlands, organic colors—stands in contrast to the increasingly commercial and environmentally damaging aspects of some modern festivals. Many Nepalis consciously choose traditional, biodegradable materials over plastic decorations and synthetic colors, making Tihar an environmentally conscious celebration.

Conclusion: Light, Life, and Love

Tihar illuminates Nepal not just with lamps but with the warm glow of compassion, gratitude, and connection. From the crow that carries messages to the sister who prays for her brother’s long life, every ritual reinforces the idea that all beings are worthy of honor and that our relationships—with animals, nature, ourselves, and each other—are sacred.

As night falls on the fifth day and the last butter lamps flicker out, Tihar’s message endures: in honoring the life around us, we honor the divine within us. In celebrating our bonds, we strengthen the fabric of community. And in lighting lamps in the darkness, we affirm our faith that light will always return.

For those seeking to understand Nepal’s soul, Tihar offers a window into a culture that sees divinity in a dog’s loyalty, wisdom in a crow’s call, abundance in a cow’s gentleness, and eternity in a sister’s love. It is, ultimately, a festival that celebrates the simple yet profound truth: all life is connected, and in honoring that connection, we find meaning, joy, and light.

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Subha Tihar! (Happy Tihar!)