Across the identical time India celebrates Diwali, Nepal too enters right into a festive spirit with Tihar. Generally known as a ‘competition of lights,’ this five-day celebration includes honouring the goddess Laxmi, together with distinctive traditions of worshipping crows, canine, oxen, and in some communities, even oneself. The competition, as this author discovered throughout her latest go to to Kathmandu, begins with Kaag Tihar.
“Kaag, or crows, are seen as messengers of Yamraj, the god of loss of life. We worship them, putting a tikka on their heads, and providing garlands and meals,” shares Bibek Shrestha, senior gross sales supervisor at Kathmandu Marriott Lodge, and a member of the Newar group, which is taken into account because the indigenous inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. Worshipping crows, locals imagine, appeases them, defending households from misfortune and grief within the coming yr.
The next day is widely known as Kukur Tihar. Right here, the love for canine is on full show—particularly round Kathmandu Durbar Sq., the place is an ideal cease to take pleasure in a conventional Newari thali that includes savoury black lentil pancakes (Bara), overwhelmed rice, spicy smoked buff Choila, a black soybean salad (bhatmas), spicy potato salad (Alu Sandeko), a portion of inexperienced saag, and Yomari, a dumpling dessert crammed with jaggery. It’s served with Aila or Cheng, do-it-yourself liquors constituted of fermented rice. Canine could possibly be seen roaming freely by way of frequent areas, welcomed into eateries. For Kukur Tihar, locals adorn their canine with tikka and garlands, typically dressing them in cosy jackets, a considerate gesture towards the night chill that begins to wrap Kathmandu valley October onwards. The celebrations lengthen past pets to avenue canine, who’re additionally pampered with meals and affection.
Laxmi Puja in Nepal mirrors India’s Diwali: households and companies preserve their doorways open, inviting goddess Laxmi’s blessings for prosperity. Marigold ornament, rangolis, and the goddess’s symbolic footprints adorn houses and outlets. It’s probably not a shock contemplating 81.19 per cent of the inhabitants in Nepal is Hindu with a distinguished presence of the Marwari group. The shopkeepers in Nepal, lots of whom have Indian roots, take part by lighting up their shops for the goddess’s arrival. As it’s in India, the utilization of digital lights, we learnt from the locals, have elevated currently however individuals nonetheless really feel nostalgic about lighting oil lamps.
Including to the keenness of Laxmi Puja are the colourful folks performances of Bhailo and Deusi. Historically, Bhailo is carried out by ladies on Laxmi Puja night time, whereas Deusi follows the following day with male performers. These days, nonetheless, each are sometimes celebrated collectively, that includes door-to-door singing and well-wishing, accompanied by conventional drums just like the madal. In return for his or her blessings, performers obtain presents or choices from the owners.
The day after Laxmi Puja is Gobhardhan Puja, devoted to honouring oxen, whereas the competition’s last day is Bhai Tika, a sibling ceremony just like India’s Bhai Dooj. On at the present time, sisters apply a seven-coloured ‘Saptrangi’ tikka on their brothers’ foreheads, who contact their sister’s ft for blessing and provides her a gift.
In Newari communities, Bhai Tika consists of drawing rangolis for every sibling, together with one devoted to Lord Ganesha. Shrestha notes that on at the present time, not solely does he purchase a gift for his sister however he additionally receives dry fruits, fruits, and even alcohol from her as a part of the celebration. For the Newaris, alcohol will not be taboo; it’s an integral a part of festive events, together with birthdays and Tihar. In reality, some even imagine that Cheng (native rice beer) promotes milk manufacturing in breastfeeding ladies, permitting it for pregnant and lactating ladies as effectively.
The Newaris, which represent practically half of the inhabitants within the Kathmandu Valley, Tihar sees a further day of festivities. Devoted to self-worship, it’s known as Moh Puja. “This present day is about celebrating ourselves, thanking the lord and our kuldevta (ancestral deities),” says Shrestha. On this distinctive ritual, a conventional container (mana) is crammed with rice, adorned with flowers and Saptrangi tikka, after which emptied over one’s head in a gesture of self-honour.
Completely different communities add their distinctive contact to Tihar. Among the many Sherpa, Tamang, Bhutia, and Gurung communities, themes of sunshine and life are celebrated with distinct rituals and dances. “For example, some communities gentle lamps to keep off unfavorable spirits and honour particular deities related to nature and prosperity,” explains a neighborhood.
They are saying any competition is incomplete with out sweets and that stands true to Tihar as effectively. Whereas fashionable mithais like lal mohan (gulab jamun), peda, and barfi are loved extensively, native treats maintain a particular place and are exchanged between the household and guests. “We now have Sel Roti, a deep-fried, crispy rice doughnut typically loved as a principal deal with; Yomari, constituted of nice rice flour kneaded slowly and crammed with jaggery; and Laakhamari, a crunchy candy constituted of flour and sugar, formed into distinctive designs and starting from 4 to 12 inches in diameter,” shares Suman Maharjan, head of meals and drinks at Kathmandu Marriott Lodge.
As with Diwali in India, Nepalese Tihar dates can overlap as a result of astrological alignments. “We observe the native calendar,” says Shrestha, including that with Tihar, Nepal enters a brand new yr. “We’re within the yr 1144, and on Saturday, we’ll have fun the sambat (New Yr) and welcome 1145.”
This author was in Nepal on the invite of Kathmandu Marriott Lodge
