Tihar is the second largest festival of Hindus in Nepal. The festival is celebrated from Trayodashi of Kartik Krishna to Katrik Shukla Dwitiya every year. The name Tihar means the festival of lights, where many candles are lit both inside and outside the houses to make it bright at night. The five-day festival is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and the Gods, but also to the animals like crow, cow and dog, who maintain an intense relationship with the humans.
The first day of the festival is called Kag Puja - Worship of Crows. The crows are worshipped by offerings of sweets and dishes on the roof of the houses. The cawing of the crows symbolises sadness and grief in the Hindu mythology, so the devotees offer the crows food to avert grief and deaths in their homes.
The second day is called "Kukur Puja" ("worship of the dogs").Dog, which is believed to be messenger of Lord Yamaraj, the god of death, is worshiped once a year on this day. People offer garlands, teeka and delicious food to the dogs, and acknowledge the cherished relationship between humans and the dogs.
On the morning of the third day is Gai Puja - the cow is sign of prosperity and wealth. The people in the olden times had been receiving many benefits from cow like its milk, dung even its urine was used for kind of purification. Thus on this day people showed their greatness to the cow by garlanding and feeding the cow with the best grass. In the evening Laxmi, the goddess of wealth is thanked for all the benefits that were bestowed on the families. at night the girls enjoy dancing and visiting all the houses of villages with many musical instrument playing a historical game called bhailini(vailini) for whole night. By this they collect money from all the houses and at last when th money become inlarge amount they share among them.This is the very good day for all girls.Bhailini is a historical game which has been followed by our ancestor.
Here are some matra we usually enchant during the Laxmi Puja 3rd day Tihar.
ॐ महादेव्यैच विद्महे
विष्णु पत्नेयैच धीमही
तन्नो लक्ष्मी प्रचोदयात्
"Om MahaDevyaicha Vidhmahe
Vishnu Patnyaicha Dheemahi
Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayaat"
“सर्वज्ञ सर्ववार्दय सर्वदुष्टभेद्क्री
सर्वदुखहरय देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते ”
“Sarvagyay Sarvavarday Sarvadushtbhaydkree
Sarvadukhaharay Devi Mahalakshmi Namostute”
Meaning:you know everything, you grant favors to all, you are a terror to the evil and your art removes the misery of all. Oh propitious goddess, I bow down to you.
“सिद्धि बुद्धिप्रदाए देवी भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायीनी
मन्त्रमुर्तय सदा देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते”
"Siddhi Buddhipraday Devi Bhuktimuktipradayeenee
Mantramurtay Sada Devi Mahalakshmi Namostute"
Meaning: you are the provider of success and intelligence. You are the benefactor of both worldly pleasure and freedom. The magical sound symbols-the Mantras, verily comprise their form with your grace. Propitious goddess, I bow down to you always.
“आदन्तरहिते देवी आध्शक्ति महेश्वरी
योगजय योगसंभुतय महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते”
“Aadhantarhitay Devi Aadhshakti Maheshwari
Yogajay Yogasambhutay Mahalakshmi Namostute”
Meaning:your art is without beginning and end. Your art is the primal power. Your art comes out of Yogic practice and your art is evident through Yoga. Promising Mother, I surrender to you.
“स्थुल्सुक्ष्मय महारोद्रय महाशक्ति महोद्रय
महापापहरय देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते”
“Sthulsukshmay Maharodray Mahashakti Mahodray
Mahapaapharay Devi Mahalakshmi Namostute”
Meaning: your art in gross and subtle, is the most awful and powerful. Mother, you contain all things and you remove even the greatest sins. Auspicious Mother, I surrender to you.
“पद्नासंस्तीथे देवी परब्रह्मस्वरूपीनी
पर्मश्री जगन्मात्र महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते”
“Padnaasanstithay Devi Parbrahmaswaroopeenee
Parmashree Jaganmatra Mahalakshmi Namostute”
Meaning: you reside in the hearts of devotees and prove the art of the Supreme Brahman. You are mother of the universe with your supreme art. O Great Mother, I bow to you.
On the fourth day of Tihar, there are three different known pujas, depending on the people's specific cultural background. Most perform Goru Puja, or Worship of Oxen. People who follow Krishna perform Gobardhan Puja, which is worship towards Cowdung. Cowdung is seen as very useful in Nepal, as in the olden days it was used for everything from light at night (Methane) to polish for the mud floors of traditional houses. The Newar community on the night of this day do Maha Puja, or Worship of Self. Because this period is also the beginning of Nepal Sambat, or the new year of Nepalese especially commemorated by Newars, it ensures prosperity for the new year.
The third and fourth day of Tihar is especially famous for Deusi and Bhailo, light and fireworks. Deusi and Bhailo are the songs which have only been sung on those Tihar days. Social workers, young and children visit local homes to sing these songs, and in return the home owners give them money, fruit, rice and bread (Selroti, a special type of bread made by rice flour and sugar). The Deusi is mostly sung by the boys while the Bhailo is sung by the girls.
The fifth and last day of Tihar is Bhai Tika, a day where sisters put "tika" on forehead of brothers, to ensure long life, and thank them for the protection they give. When the sisters give the "Tika", the brothers give gifts or money as a return. A special garland is made for the brothers out of a flower that wilts after a couple of months, symbolizing the sister's prayer for her brother's long life.
In this way all the five days of Tihar are celebrated with lots of joys, eating sweets, having lights in houses, fireworks and playing cards.
