My Experienced of Tihar

As we all know Tihar is also known as Deepawali. Tihar is a five-day-long Nepali festival celebrated in Nepal and the Nepali people of Indian states of Sikkim including in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is the festival of lights, as diyas are lit inside and outside the houses to make it illuminate at night. It is popularly known as Swanti and Mha worship among the Newars and as Deepawali among Madhesis. Set in the Vikram Samvat calendar, the festival begins with Kaag Tihar in Trayodashi of Kartik Krishna Paksha and ends with Bhai Tika in Dwitiya of Kartik Sukla Paksha every year. Tihar is also the second biggest Nepalese festival after Dashain.

Kaag Tihar (day 1):

                                Kaag Tihar (Crow Festival) is the first day of Tihar festival of Nepalese, Hindu people. In this particular day crow is worshipped. Religious belief in Nepal regard crow as messenger of Yamraja, the god of death. My mother wake up early in the morning and  worship the kaag  to bring good luck in our houses. We also put tika and burn fire crackers in that day.

Kukur Tihar (day 2):

                                The second day is called Kukur Tihar (Dog Festival). Dogs occupy a special place in Hindu mythology every home or street and they get special treatment in this day. We offer garlands, tika and delicious food to dogs and acknowledge the cherished relationship between humans and dogs. Owing to this belief, this day is also observed as Naraka Chaturdashi.

Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja (Day 3):

The morning of the third day is Gai Tihar (worship of the cow). Thus, on this day people show their gratefulness to the cow by garlanding and feeding them with the best grass. In our house there is no cow so we didn't worship the cow that day. But we cleaned our house and the doorways and windows. We  decorated with garlands made of Saya Patri (marigolds) and makhamali (Gomphrena globosa) flowers. In the evening we worship the Laxmi, the goddess of wealth.We were bestowed on the families by lighting oil lamps (Diyo) or candles on doorways and windows to welcome prosperity and well being. At night the girls and boys came in our house to play bhailo. We enjoyed by looking them.

Govardhan Puja (Day 4):

                                                                 On the fourth day of Tihar, there are three different known pujas, depending on the people's cultural background. Mainly ox is worshipped in this day by giving different foods. It is observed as Goru Tihar or Goru Puja (worship of the oxen). This day also we didn't worship.

Bhai Tika (Day 5):

                                                The fifth and last day of Tihar is called Bhai Tika. It is believed that Yamraj, the God of Death, visited his sister, Goddess Yamuna, on this day during which she applied the auspicious tika on his forehead, garlanded him and fed him special dishes. Me and my sister put a seven different colours tika on the foreheads of our brothers. And also I ensure  long life and thank them for the protection they provide. We garland our brother together. They also put me tika and gave gift. Also we eat delecious meals. I have done lots of fun with them and clicked some photos too.