Tihar is the five days celebration
in Yama Panchak.
Story behind Tihar
There are various stories about the
celebration of Tihar. One of the famous stories behind the celebration of tihar
is related to Yama the god of death and his sister Yamuna. Yama had been
staying away from his sister for a long time. His sister wanted to meet him so
she asked various sources to visit him and ask him to give her a visit. She
sent crow, dog, and cow and at the end she went herself to see her brother. She
worshipped him with tika and flowers, she put him five colored tika. Yamuna
made a circle with mustard oil, Dubo Grass (Cynodon Dactylon) and put Makhmali
Mala (Globe Amaranth) and asked Yamaraj not to go till the oil, Dubo Grass and
the flower gets dry. Therefore, every sister worships her brother keeping him
in the circle of mustard oil, putting mala (garland) of Makhmali flower and
Dubo grass.
How is Tihar Celebrated
Kag Tihar
First day - Kag Tihar (Crow Puja)
On the first day of Tihar, crows are
worshiped and fed early in the morning. People leave different food items
outside for crows to eat. Crow is considered to be the messenger of death.
People believe the crow gets the messages to the house in the morning. People
worship it to bring good luck themselves.
Second day - Kukur Tihar (Dog Puja)
The second day of tihar is dedicated
to the most loyal friend of mankind. Kukur, the dog, Puja is done by putting a
red tika on dog's forehead and flower garland around the neack offering him
foods and sel roti. Generally male dog can see endangers and death
coming.
Third day – Gai (cow) Puja and Laxmi
Puja
On the third day of tihar Cows are
worshipped in the morning. Cows are
worshipped with sesame oil Disciples
try to pass in-between four legs of the cow. Cow is regarded as mother in Hindu
religion, as we grow up drinking her milk. Some look cow as Goddess Lakshmi,
the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
light, garland of flower and red
color (abir). Wheat flour, sel roti, rice and dal are feed to cows.
In the afternoon we clean our
houses, paint floors with Red Mud (Rato Mato) and cow dung (gobar). Small
circle
Gai Tihar are made in front of the
main gate and decorated with colorful designs. Some people call it rangoli.
Laxmi
Puja
Small designs of footsteps are
painted from the main entrance to the puja kotha. These footsteps are believed
to be the footsteps of goddess Lakshmi. Candles or pala are lit all over the
house making it bright and beautiful.
There is a long tradition of going
housed in the evening singing songs to ask for money and foods. Generally girls
and kids go out to neighbors sing traditional songs called Bhailo songs. The
tradition is called “Bhailo” and songs are called Bhailini songs.
The song starts with “Bhailini aain
agana gunyo cholo magna, hey ausi ko din gai tiharo bhailo”. Badali kudali
rakheko, laxmi pooja gareko, hey ajako dina gaitiharo bhailo…” Meaning Bahilini
are at your door to ask for a gunyo cholo (Nepali traditional dress), today is
no moon day and Cow pooja and Bhailo day, the house is clean and you have done
Lakshmi puja, today is cow pooja day and Bhailo”
Fire crackers are blown in this
day. People play cards in Laxmi puja to welcome goddess Laxmi in the
night. People believe, laxmi comes to the house which is clean and bright.
In the evening the goddess of wealth
Lakshmi is worshiped by lighting numerous lights and lightening works. It is believed
that by worshiping Laxmi and pleasing her in return she gives us wealth. People
worship wealth and food store this day.
Fourth day – Goru Tihar (Govardhan parbat ko puja)
and Mah (aatma or self) Puja
On Govardhan puja Goru Tihar, three
different Kinds of puja are performed. We perform Goru Puja, or worship Oxen.
We also perform Govardhan Puja, which is done by making a hill of govardhan
parbat using Cow dung. Cow dung has big importance in Hindu culture. In the old
days it was used for everything from light at night (Methane) to polish mud
floors of traditional houses. Still now no Puja is complete without cow dung in
Nepali Hindu culture.
Fifth Day: Bhai Tika or Bhai Duj
Pancha Rangi Tika
The fifth and last day of Tihar is
Bhai Tika. This day sisters put “Tika of five colours” Paanch Rangi Tika -
Yellow, green, red, blue and white on forehead of her brothers, to ensure long
life and pray to Yamraja for her brother’s long life and prosperity. Sister
offers brothers Shaguns of dry fruits especially walnut, hazelnut
(Katus), fruits and sweets and in return the brothers give their sisters gifts
and money. The brothers also put Pancha Rangi Tika to sister and bow her on her
feet and assure her to protect her till the end of life.
On this day, Rani Pokhari Temple
(located at central Kathmandu) is opened for those who do not have any brother
or sister. This is the only time in a year the temple is open to general
public.
Story and legends behind Bhai Tika
A legend has it that while
performing ‘brother worship’ the messenger of Yama Raj came to collect the soul
of the man going through ‘brother worship’, as the lifetime of the man has
expired in the human world. However, a sister performing ‘brother worship’ has
requested the messenger to wait until she completes the ‘brother worship’.
The smart sister invited the
messenger to sit along with the brother and get the honor of ‘brother worship’.
The sister did ‘brother worship’ so well to the messenger that he became very
pleased with her and asked her anything she wished to have as a gift. The wise
sister asked the messenger for a long life of her brother. Thus, she saved the
life of her brother.
Another story about how the ‘brother
worship’ has started is that Yama Raj has five days off, as Lord Vishnu gave
the boon of ruling the three worlds for five days to Bali Raja. Lord Vishnu has
tricked Bali Raja to go to a lonely dark world for his meritorious act that has
shacked the heavenly kingdom of Lord Indra. So, Lord Vishnu has granted him to
rule all three Hindu worlds for five days in addition to agreeing on guarding
Bali Raja for four months. Yamaraj’s world is one of the three worlds. So, he
went to visit his sister, as he has not visited her for a long time.
Seeing her brother, Yama Raj, sister
Yamuna became so happy, she did not know how to welcome the brother who has
visited after such a long time. So, she did every possible thing to keep her
brother Yama Raj happy for five days. On the last day, before going back to his
world, Yama Raj made the presentation of a unique gift to his sister in return
for her hospitality. We believe that she has set the tradition of ‘brother
worship.’
So, we call the five days of ‘Tihar’
as ‘Yama Pancak’ means the five days of Yama Raj. On these five days we do
everything possible for keeping Yama Raj happy, as Yama Raj is going to judge
our vices and virtues after our death, and treats our souls accordingly.
