TIHAR: A FESTIVAL FOR CROWS, DOGS, COWS & BROTHERS (Satis Shroff)

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NEPALESE TIHAR (Satis Shroff)

Tihar in Nepal and Diwali is the Festival of Light is a five-day period of feastival of animals that the Hindus revere and worship in Nepal and India. In the days of the kings in Nepal the royal Nepalese army used to used to parade on tis day and fire gun salutes in the presence of the royalty.

 The first day of the tihar festival is devoted to the crow (kaag tihar) in Nepal. It is the day of worship of the corvids. Crows and ravens are worshiped with offerings of sweets and meals placed on the roofs of houses. The cawing of crows and ravens symbolizes sadness and grief in Hinduism, so devotees Messengers of Death. Tihar among the Nepalese and the Gorkhalis represents the divine attachment between humans and other animals .

On the second day of tihar it's the Dog Festival Day (kukur tihar), celebrated in Nepal, Sikkim (India) and where the Nepalese and Gorkhalis live and during which a worship of the dogs takes place. The Newars of Kathmandu Valley, and those who live in other parts of the country and in Darjeeling, Sikkim and Assam, perform a Khicha Puja. Dogs, which are believed also to be messengers of Lord Yamaraj, the God of Death, are worshiped once each year on this day. The Nepalese people offer garlands, tika and delicious food to dogs and acknowledge the cherished relationship between humans and dogs. This day is also observed as Narka Chaturdashi.

The third day of tihar marks the Cow Festival, gai-tihar, and Lakshmi Puja. Garlands of yellow marigold flowers are prepared for the decoration of heads of brothers and fathers and flowery decorations are used for houses, offices, cars, trains, commercial complexes in the morning of Lakshmi Puja, the Hindu Goddess of prosperity and wealth. The holy cow signifies prosperity and wealth among the Hindus of Nepal and India. In ancient times people benefitted a lot from the cow and they show their gratitude on this day by garlanding and feeding the cow with the best grass that available. Since it is expected that the Goddess Lakshmi visits every house on this occasion, the Nepalese and Indian houses are cleaned, the doorways and windows decorated with garlands made of marigold flowers which are called saipatri and  chrysanthemums (makhamali).

In the evening the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, is thanked for all the blessings and benefits that were bestowed on the families by lighting oil lamps called ‘diyo’ or candles on doorways and windows to welcome the Goddess of Prosperity and well being. At night it’s bhailo-time, and the girls enjoy dancing and visiting the houses of the neighborhood with musical instruments singing and dancing. The people they visit give them financial contributions and the singers and musicians share the money.

Tihar is celebratd from the third day onwards bhailo (females) and deusi (males),, which might remind westerners of carol-singing in Christmastime. It India it is called diwali or deepavali, whereas in Nepal it is called tihar, and is the festival of light. After the tika-talo puja and ceremony the sisters feed their brothers with delicious dishes from the Nepalese cuisine and the brothers give their sisters presents and money. 

In the deusi ballads are sung which relate the story of the festival, with one person in the group narrating and the rest as the chorus. In return the hosts they visit in the neighbourhood show their gratitude by giving them money, fruit and a round fried bread called ‘selroti’ which is made of rice flour and sugar. The times have changed and these days even the local social workers and politicians accompany the young people and visit homes in the neighbourhood, sing these songs, and collect funds for welfare and social activities.

On the fourth day of Tihar, there are three different known pujas. There is the bull festival (goru tihar) or the worship of the oxen. Hindus who follow Vaishnavism perform the govardhan puja, which is is the reverence and worship of the goverdhan mountain. Cowdung is a symbole of the mountain and is worshiped. The majority of the Newar community in Kathmandu Valley also perform the Mha (Ich) when evening falls, which is the worship of self. It is on this day that the new Nepal Sambat calendar begins, which is based on the lunar calendar.

The fifth and last day of Tihar is called bhai tika and is observed by sisters applying tika to the foreheads of their brothers to ensure long life and thank them for the protection they provide. It is believed that Yamaraj, the Hindu God of Death, visited his sister, Goddess Yamuna, on this day during which she applied the auspicious tika to his forehead, garlanded him and fed him special dishes. Together, they ate sweets, talked and enjoyed themselves.

Upon parting, Yamraj gave Yamuna a special gift as a token of his affection and, in return, Yamuna gave him a lovely gift which she had made with her own hands. That day Yamraj announced that anyone who receives tika from his sister will never die on that day. Sisters make a special garland for their brothers from a flower that wilts only after a couple of months, symbolizing the sister's prayer for her brother's long life. Brothers sit on the floor while their sisters perform their ritual ceremony.

The ceremonial puja follows a traditional ritual in which sisters circle brothers, dripping oil on the floor from a copper pitcher and applying oil to their brother's hair. This is followed by a seven-coloured tika that is applied to the brother's forehead. The brothers in turn apply tikas on their sisters’ forehead  in the same fashion and  exchange gifts. Those without a sister or brother ask relatives or friends to apply the tika, as brothers in proxy.