What is Tihar?
Tihar (also called Deepawali or Diwali in other South Asian contexts) is the second major Hindu festival of the Nepali calendar, arriving two to three weeks after Dashain. Its name derives from a Nepali word for festival, and it is characterised above all by light: homes are outlined with strings of electric lights or rows of clay oil lamps (diyo), and courtyards are decorated with colourful rangoli patterns made from rice flour, petals or coloured powder. The celebration has both devotional and familial dimensions, honouring deities, animals considered sacred, and the sibling bond.
The five observances and their significance
Each of Tihar's five days has a distinct focus. Kaag Tihar (Day 1) involves feeding crows before eating oneself, as crows are considered messengers of Yama who can carry news of death. Kukur Tihar (Day 2) honours dogs with garlands and specially prepared food, acknowledging their role as guardians and companions of Yama. Gai Puja and Laxmi Puja fall on Day 3: cows are worshipped in the morning and, after sunset, earthen lamps are lit to welcome Laxmi into the home. Day 4 brings Govardhan Puja honouring oxen and, in Newar households, the introspective Mha Puja ritual. Bhai Tika on Day 5 celebrates the bond between sisters and brothers with an elaborate tika ceremony.
Light, rangoli and Laxmi Puja
The lighting of diyo on Laxmi Puja evening is one of the most visually striking moments of the Nepali festival calendar. Families clean and redecorate their homes in the days before, believing that a clean, bright home attracts Laxmi's blessings of prosperity and good fortune. Intricate rangoli designs are drawn at the entrance; garlands of marigold (sayapatri) and cockscomb (makhamali) flowers adorn doorways and windows. In urban areas, streets and commercial buildings are also elaborately lit, making Laxmi Puja night a spectacular occasion for walking through any Nepali town or city.
Mha Puja and Nepal Samvat
Mha Puja — meaning "worship of the self" — is a uniquely Newar ceremony performed on the fourth day of Tihar. Family members sit on decorated mats in ceremonial order while a ritual specialist (or the senior woman of the household) performs a series of offerings to each person's inner self, invoking long life and protection. The same day typically marks the start of Nepal Samvat, the lunar calendar used by the Newar community, which in 2083 BS enters its 1147th year. The convergence of Mha Puja with the Newar New Year makes the fourth day of Tihar especially significant in the Kathmandu Valley.
Bhai Tika and the sibling bond
Bhai Tika, the final day of Tihar, celebrates the relationship between sisters and brothers. Sisters prepare a seven-colour tika and apply it to their brothers' foreheads while reciting prayers for their long life and wellbeing; brothers offer gifts in return. The ritual is said to originate in a story where Yama visited his sister Yamuna, who placed tika on his forehead and asked for his blessing — it is believed that brothers whose sisters perform Bhai Tika are protected from untimely death. The celebration often includes a shared feast, exchanging sweets, and spending the day together as a family.