Tihar festival in Nepal: Celebrating Family Bonds and Timeless Traditions

What is the festival Tihar in Nepal?

Tihar Festival is considered the festival of lights, the festival of animals, and the time of the year that interweaves with the bond between sister and brother and the togetherness of family. The festival lasts for 5 days, during which the city area is beautifully decorated with marigolds, colorful lights, and the city is thrived with traditional songs, dances, and playing deusi bhailo, playing ancient folk, that thrives the city in an enchanting way.

Whereas, in the Himalayas, you can witness the locals, especially women, cleaning house with cow dung, the doors are decorated with flowers (marigolds), and the diyo (ancient lights lit up with ghee and oil), with the Himalayan kids playing the Deusi Bhailo. Usually, in simple words, it is the time of the year that honors animals like the crow, cow, and dog, for the straight 3 days, at the beginning offering foods, garlands, tikas, and seeking blessings with gratitude to the birds. The other two days are marked as the worship of the goddess Laxmi, Gowardhan (mountain) associated with lord krishna, and conclude with a Bhai Tika on the very last day. 

The Festival of Tihar comes after the end of Dashain, approximately 2 weeks, where Dashain signifies the victory over evil; meanwhile, Tihar signifies the prosperity, gratitude towards nature and animals, and the interwined connection between families and the worship of goddess Laxmi, welcoming wealth, prosperity, and good deeds in life. This year, 2025, the Tihar festival starts from the 10th of October and lasts till the 23rd of October, hence, if time fits, and you've never celebrated the Tihar festival in Nepal, then, make plannings to visit Nepal, during this time, where you can celebrate it with locals, celebrating their arts, cultures, roots, beliefs, myths, and the family bond.

When is the Tihar Festival in Nepal celebrated in 2025?

This year, 2025, the celebration of the Tihar festival will take place from starting from October 19, 2025 (Sunday) and last till October 23, 2025, which means according to the Nepali calendar, it'll be celebrated from Kartik 2, 2082 and Kartik 6, 2082, for straight five days. Each day holds a distinct meaning and is celebrated uniquely, that is dedicated to the specific event, for animals, gods, and the bonds between brothers and sisters. The Tihar dates change from year to year, which is determined by the traditional Hindu Lunar Calendar Calculation, and officially announced by the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee as soon as the new year of Nepal begins, after studying the year's astrological factors.

The celebration is not only done on a specific day, but also at a specific time for rituals like Bhai Tika and Laxmi Puja, whereas, for the year 2025, the festival has come earlier than 2024, which was started from 30th October to 3rd November. Meanwhile, for 2025, the Tihar Festival in Nepal will start from October 19, Sunday, which marks the Crow Tihar - Kaag Puja, and ends on October 23, Thursday, by concluding with a Bhai Tika. On the other hand, as per the Nepali Calendar 2082, it falls between Kartik 2nd and Kartik 6th, which shortly gets started after 2 weeks away from Dashain, which is why many Nepalese people name it as a Dashain and Tihar festival, rather than naming it distinctly.  

Here is the quick overview of the festival of Tihar in Nepal, dates and timings with their highlights, which is celebrated based on the Hindu Lunar Calendar that falls in the month of Kartik, 2082, starting from the 2nd of Kartik and lasting till the end of the 6th of Kartik, for 5 days:

During the Tihar festival time period, that falls under Autumn season in Nepal you can literally feel the vibration of Hindu cultures in the form of colorful art (rangoli) made at the door of the house, and lighting diyo (traditional lights), the whole house covered in colorful lights, and the background sound of the Deusi Bhailo playing at the background, showing Nepalese songs and dances, in every alley you pass by, and every house that you literally gaze at.

History of Tihar Festival: How it all began?

There is no exact time, date, or mythological aspect in the history of the Tihar festival celebration, regarding how it actually began, how it all started, and it has many historical stories that connect the celebration of Tihar with the Yamuna, which is also known as the divine river goddess, the daughter of the sun god (Surya), and the Yamraj also known as Yama - (god of death). As there are two folks, historical beliefs having different stories, written differently in every other historical textbook, exactly, there are two stories associated with them, both carry distinct values.

One ancient legend has depicted the story of Yamuna and Yama, where the Yamuna had a brother, who was completely ill, and in the urge to leave the soul behind, at a complete stage. That's when the god of death, Yamraj, came to take his (Yamuna's brother) soul to the parlok - heaven (the life after death). That's when the Yamuna asked the Yama to take part in the puja and worship for the goodness and long life of her brother, being fully emotional with the Yamuna's bond with her brother and her worship, and when Yamraj asked, ask me whatever boon you want i will give it you, then, Yamuna asked for the health and long life of her ill brother and to save him from the death, then, after the boon was granted, the Tihar festival, especially Bhai Tika marks as a day, to celebrate the brother and sister relationship, bond and togetherness.

Whereas, there is another belief that, once there was a Kirati King, who was ill and near death, when his sister Yamuna took good care of his well-being, health, without blinking an eye, and went through many hardships. When Yamraj (Yama) came to take his life to heaven, out of his soul, the sister, Yamuna, insisted that he wait until her worship of her brother was finished, and she then put major conditions. Such as wait till the tika on Bali's head fades away, and the garland of marigolds gets dried out, then, shockingly, neither of these things happened, and then, Yamraj couldn't take the life of his brother on the very day. Whereas, every other day, the Yamraj used to come or send his messengers, but still the flower never wilted, and that's when the Yamraj granted the boon (blessings), for a long, healthy life of her brother.

That's when the festival of Tihar started in Nepal, where Tihar also means "Yamapanchak", which denotes the Yama, for god of death, and Panchak denotes the five days that celebrate the bond and relationship between brother and sister. No matter the many historical mythological stories that the ancient textbooks hold, they interweave with the themes of life, death, protection, love, and the spiritual with a religious aspect, sharing the love and relationship between brother and sister.

How is the Tihar Festival celebrated in Nepal?

The festival of Tihar in Nepal is celebrated for five days, which thrives in the beauty of art, culture, boisterous music playing in the background (deusi bhailo) with group, lighting up the houses, with colorful lights and diyo (ancient style of lighting with oil or ghee), which is the season of animals, family bonds, and following the root culture. Most Nepalese celebrate by cleaning their houses in the early morning, buying new jewelry for themselves, or purchasing vehicles, decorating their houses with colorful lights to welcome fortune, and seeking the blessing of Laxmi Maa (the goddess of wealth). They also give sweets, gifts, and flowers.

These kinds of basic ways of celebration can be seen only once a year, where the whole Kathmandu valley, capital city of Nepal, gets lighted up in the colorful lights under the twinkling stars, whereas, in the other major cities as well, in the Himalayas, you can see the celebration in a distinct way, where the local women gather together make diyo (traditional lights), with hand, make rangoli with the cow dunk and decorating with the petals of marigold.

Group of young girls, boys, or even Aama Pati (Mother community - a group of mothers), host deusi bhailo, in the streets, outside the house, by singing some Nepalese folk dances, and chanting bhailiram, where the household owner or the business owner gives them money, with fruits, flowers, and sel roti (sweet ring shaped bread, which is cooked during the occasion of dashain and tihar by mothers usually ladies), for the offerings to god, and also is a way of celebrating ancient festive and traditions.

Kaag Tihar (Crow Day): First Day

The Kaag Tihar, which is translated as Crow Day, marks the 1st day of the Tihar when the crows are worshipped, with food offerings such as rice, grains, sweets, fruits, or any kind of meals, which are placed in the early morning on the rooftop, so the crows get to see them easily and have them. According to the Hindu mythology, crows are considered the messengers of Yamraj (Yama), and are also believed to pass the message of earth to the gods themselves. By offering the foods to the crows, and when they eat them, it is believed to wash away all the sins, negative energy, and bring fortune, blessings, and protection to the families. 

The first day of Tihar is Kaag Tihar, which falls on 19th October 2025, according to the English Calendar, whereas, marks to be on 2nd Kartik 2082 - Sunday. Providing the rice and grains to the crows in the morning sets a welcoming the fortunes and wealth in life for the upcoming year, and hoping to seek good luck and blessings, with no expectation of devastating news, in the future days.

Kukur Tihar (Dog Day): Second Day

The second day of the Tihar festival is marked to be Kukur Tihar (Day of the dogs), which falls on October 20, 2025 (3rd Kartik, 2082), where the dogs are worshipped, early in the morning, by providing meals, treats, and putting tika on the forehead with a marigold garland (mala), on the neck, as a gratitude for the appriciation of the loyalty of dogs, and protecting the house and neighbourhood.

According to the Hindu belief, it is said that dogs are the guide souls to heaven, as after death, meaning that even after death, they provide companionship, and act a gatekeepers of death. While in many places, stray dogs are still treated badly, totally in an inhumane way, this small act shows not only today, but people must have such compassion, love, and care for the dogs every day, by feeding them, or at least loving them.

Gai Tihar (Cow Tihar) and Laxmi Puja (Worship to Laxmi Goddess): Third Day

The third day of the Tihar Festival is celebrated as a Gai Tihar, also known as the Cow Tihar, which has a deep spiritual and motherhood significance associated with Nepal. The cows are considered sacred in Hinduism, and also symbolize a mother who provides milk to us, just like a mother does to her child, which nourishes, after the birth, just like that, cows are a sustenance symbol of mother and child bond. On this day, the cows (gai) are worshipped by putting tika on their foreheads, after bathing, purifying their souls and bodies, offering a garland (mala), and food.

While, at the evening time, the Laxmi Puja is done, laxmi means the goddess of wealth and fortune according to the hindu beliefs, whereas puja denotes the worship, which is performed, by lighting diyo (ancient candle lighten up by oil and ghee), colorful rangoli (in the meaning shape of goddess, birds like peacock, or OM symbol, anything that symbolize the hindu culture), and stamping the feet like pattern to the puja room (worship room), showing her the way, to her home, and welcoming the fortune with her step. 

The Laxmi puja is done early in the morning, where the whole house gets cleaned by the families to welcome Maa Laxmi, and the puja room is beautifully decorated with marigolds, which symbolize that the goddess is on her way to the home. This year, 2025, the cow and Laxmi Tihar are celebrated on October 21 (4th Mangsir, 2082), while the gai puja (worship of the cow) is celebrated in the early morning, and the laxmi puja (worship of the goddess Laxmi) is done in the evening. 

Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja (Oxen and Self-Reflection): Fourth Day

Govardhan Puja is celebrated on the 4th day of the five-day Tihar festival, which is celebrated just like the cow and dog tihar, where the oxen are worshipped as a gratitude, mostly by agriculture workers, as it is used as hali (farmes who plough with the help of oxyen), due to which farmers get to work in fields easily, earn themselves and sustain the agricultural life easily. Oxen are offered tika, garlands (marigold mala), and a special meal early in the morning, which is seen in the Himalayas (remote places in Nepal).

Whereas the backstory of the Govardhan Puja is associated with Lord Krishna (who gave guidance to Arjuna), during the Mahabharata, where the lord lifted the Govardhan mountain, to save the villagers from Lord Indra's anger (rain of god), he lifted the mountain with the tip of his finger. During this day, the cow dung is pasted, or cleansed on the walls, floors, in the village, and ties the sacred Janai thread (which was tied in the Janai Purnima festival), to the tail of the cow, to pass the river easily to heaven.

On the other hand, the Newar community celebrates the Mha Puja, which marks the new year for the Newari people, which is known as the beginning of the Nepal Sambat New Year, demonstrating self-reflection and purification. It is deeply connected with the self-worship, which celebrates life, purification, and spiritual well-being, where the families gather together in the evening and make mandalas on the floor, where they offer fruits, grains, newari foods, and other sacred items, said to purify the body and soul.

Together, the Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja are celebrated in the year 2025, on October 22, which highly signifies the interwined connection of nature, agriculture, and well-being, with spirit purification.

Bhai Tika (Bond between Brother and Sister): Fifth Day

Bhai Tika marks the fifth day, and the conclusion of the Tihar Festival in Nepal, which signifies the bond between the brother and sisterhood, that will be celebrated on 6th Kartik, 2082 (23rd October, 2025), which is highly associated with the history of Yampanchak - the story of Yamrja and Yamuna, on how Yamuna, saved her brother life from the death of god, Yamraj and got a boon (blessing), for long lasting healthy life from brother, when he was on the verge near death. Since then, the Bhai Tika in Nepal is celebrated on the last day of Tihar, where in the early morning sister takes a fast, prepares the brother's favourite meals, sweets, and makes packing with a hamper of walnuts, peanuts, kaju, also known as bhai masala, with seven tika (known as saptarangi tika), and garlands (mala). 

The ritual begins with the sister, rounding up with water and oil, circling the brother, and then offering a dhaka topi (Nepalese topi), saptarangi tika (seven colorful tika) on the forehand, and providing the bhai masala (gift package), that's sister made out of love, with breaking walnut at the door - which is believed to break the bad deeds, and bring good fortune. Then, afterwards, the brother put tika on the sister's forehead, and provided gifts, and cash, as a granting blessing and accepting the sister's love. 

Bhai Tika in Nepal is one of the most loved festivals, which shares the bond between sister and brother, with the effort that the sister makes on the very day, whereas, brother accepts the love and blessing from the sister. It is not just a festival, but an act of preserving the family love, care, and bond with each other at least once a month.

Why is Deusi Bhailo Performed?

There is a deep historical significance that connects the celebration of the Tihar festival with the mythological belief and Nepal's medieval history, which is linked with the story of Lord Vishnu and the powerful King Bali, who was kind, generous, and a huge symbol of sacrifice where the festival Tihar lasts for 5 days, Deusi Bhailo, welcomes King Bali, to return the earth. It is written in ancient scriptures, such as the Vaman Puran, that King Bali was sent by the ruler of the Universe, Lord Vishnu, to the underworld, requesting three paces of land, and then, after covering the heaven and earth, Vishnu asked for Bali's head, for the third step, which he sacrifised, leading to his descent to the world, Earth.

Deusi Bhailo performed throughout the five days of Tihar, in the form of playing ancient folk songs, wearing traditional attire, jewels, singing local folk songs and dances, by a group of boys and girls, where the whole city is jazzed in the melody and harmony of traditional folk songs and dances. During Deusi Bhailo, the group, which is playing the traditional songs, dances, and also chants in the bhailiram melody, such as: Bhana mero bhai ho (guys sing with me), and then, the other guys chant Deu Sire, which means give head, that is related to the King Bali story and Lord Vishnu mythological aspects. Then, after the program gets completed, the household and the owner of the business offer money, fruits, sel roti, whereas, in return, the group, performing the rituals, provide blessings to the family and house, and the fortune of their career and wealth.

Why Tihar Festival important for Nepalese?

Known as the second major festival of Nepal, Tihar, marks the interwoven relationship between the bond and togetherness of family and siblings, which are celebrated for 5 days straight, where each days carry an important significance related to agriculture, animals, and nature. Celebrated since ancient days, it honors the generational celebration, boasts the ancient culture, and preserves the traditions, which brings the family together and shows the animals and nature gratitude and respect with food offerings. The Tihar festival highly contributes to the major aspects such as historical, cultural, spiritual, economic, and cultural exchange, which comes every year once, just after the Dashain festival ends.

Here are the key importance on why the festival of Tihar must be celebrated and preserved for future generations as well, and the reason for marking it as a second major festival of Nepal, after Dashain.

Honoring Ancestral Heritage and Spiritual Essence

Tihar is not like any other festival; it is also a symbol of peace, harmony, and social well-being, which shows the connection of the animals with human lives, such as during the three days of Tihar, the worship of the crow, dog, and cows is done by offering meals, flowers, garland (mala), as a gratitude (Thanks giving).

This kind of honoring is done to seek blessings for fortune, wealth, good luck, and to wash away the sins, also showing empathy and respect to such animals, who have highly contributed to the local economy, love, and improving the daily livelihood of farmers, and the guardship of the loyal dogs. Whereas the other two days are dedicated to the worship of oxen, and goddess Laxmi (the god of wealth and fortune), to welcome the goddess into the home, and to prosper the wealth of the houses and business. These 5 days of Tihar Festival show not only a celebration, but also, following the roots, honor gods and goddesses, animals and nature, interwined with the historical Puranas and Vedas.

Family Bonds and Togetherness

During this festival time, which comes once a year, every family gathers together and celebrates togetherness by simple basic things such as cleaning the house together, decorating the house with lights, making rangolis, cooking traditional meals like sel roti and meats, playing cards, and so on, by taking holiday from the 9 to 5 job, and making their time for the families. To run a happy family life, such small attributes play a vital role in building up a close relationship with each other, which isn't possible every single day, as kids have to go to school, and mama and papa have to head to the office for work. At the same time, the Bhai Tika in Tihar, which is the festival time of brother and sister, builds bonds by exchanging gifts and blessings.

Boosts Economy for Locals

The best part about such festivals, Dashain and Tihar, which are celebrated by all Nepalese way, not only Hindus, is that the local economy gets increased by 80% or three times than the regular days. Where the locals sell the marigold flowers that bloom in the farms, with elements such as bhai tika (which is offered at the forehead of the brother), garlands (mala), wrapping the neck, marigold flowers, bhai masala, and even alcohol beverages with bhai masala (hamper with chocolates, nuts, gets sold at double the price, relatively thrice higher than regular days, which boasts the local economy highly.

Cultural Exchange

The major festivals of Nepal, Dashain and Tihar, fall under the peak seasonal time, under Autumn, which attracts the majority of tourists here in Nepal, where the visitors can enhance their tour or treks in Nepal, by learning new Nepalese phrases, gazing at the lifestyle of the locals, and experiencing the cultures and traditions associated with Hindu mythology. Along with exchanging cultures, it highly contributes to the local economy, as well, where locals also get to know about the Western lifestyle.

How to Experience the Tihar Festival as a Tourist in Nepal?

As the Tihar falls, under the peak season of visiting Nepal, tourists, who are planning any kind of adventure in the Himalayas, do not have to plan distinctly, just to witness this lively festival, which comes every year and lasts for 5 days. One can truly experience the festival while visiting the remote places, villages, and the countryside, getting along with the adventure they are seeking, whereas, to enhance your experience, you can follow some of the attributes, and ettiques, and practices with locals (Nepalese):

• Try learning to make the rangolis with Nepalese, by initiating them, while they are following such rituals; however, do not step on the rangolis mistakenly, as it is made to welcome goddess Laxmi.
• Play "Deusi Bhailo" with kids, by following their chanting, such as when they chant, Bhana Mera Bhai ho, or something like this, you can enjoy saying Deusire, or just dance with them, while they are playing traditional music and dances.
• Try learning cooking "SEL ROTI", which is cooked at many major festivals, if you are staying at home, or at the tea house, during your journey
• Witness the beautiful, colorful lighting displayed in the city areas, and the diyos (candle lit up with ghee and oil), with the farms thriving with marigold flowers, and the house, with entry doors with rangoli art
• Visit famous temples such as Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhnath, Bhadrakali, and other spiritual sites and heritage sites in Lumbini, Pokhara, and Chitwan, which can be completed in a short time
• Savor the traditional dishes such as Sel roti, butter bread, sweets like peda, laddu, jalebi, etc
• To enhance your experience, you can make a sister in Nepal, and enjoy the festival by getting a saptarangi tika from your sister, and seek blessings

Tihar is one of the lively festivals that mark the sisterhood bond, family togetherness, spiritual significance, and uphold the norms, values, and traditions carried forward by the ancestors. If you are planning to visit Nepal during the autumn season, then it is the perfect time to unravel the celebrations and cultural events in Nepal by taking part in many activities.

What are the Popular Destinations to visit during Tihar in Nepal?

Considering travelling to some spiritually and culturally rich places is one of the best ways to celebrate the festival of Tihar and immerse oneself in the overall experience, heart to heart. Many famous tourism destinations do not demand any kind of physical experiences, or ample planning that you can easily count on, to enhance the cultural experience and get to know the historical significance of the nepalese. By opting for must-visit places in Nepal, along with festival celebrations, you can relish in the thriving art, cultures, lifestyle, and nature, gaze at the astonishing countryside views and temples, monasteries, with other historical sites. 

• Kathmandu: Visit some of the ancient Hindu temples, such as Pashupati Temple, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Basantapur, where you can engage in worshipping gods, visiting museums, arts, and courtyards, along with experiencing the boisterous celebration, with folk songs, music, and deusi bhailo displayed at these sites.
• Pokhara City: Experience the air balloon, paragliding, boating, and also, engage in the deusi bhailo program, at the city side, gazing at the city lights, and the peaceful surroundings of the lakeside, where the colorful lights twinkles in the Begnas Taal, Phewa Lake, and so on.
• Bandipur village: Visit the famous hilltop village of Nepal, famous for preserving the cultural heritage, and celebrate the lively festival with streets lit up colorfully during Tihar, and streets adorned with diyo (oil lamps), which you can visit in 1 day.
• Chitwan: Enjoy the thrill of a Chitwan jungle safari, and also, insight into how Tharu communities celebrate the festival of Tihar, in an ancient way, who worship the jungle and agriculture.
• Lumbini: Gaze at the home of the Lord Buddha, adorned with the thriving lights (colorful), traditional diyo (made with clay, and lit by oil and butter), and deusi bhailo playing.

What are the famous trekking destinations to visit in Nepal during Tihar?

Nepal is marked as one of the popular destinations for tours, travelling, and trekking in the Himalayas, which thrives in the beauty of celebration of unique lifestyle, traditions, and culture, with the unbeatable views of the thundering views of mountains and landscapes. Trekking in Nepal, during such festivals of Dashain and Tihar, unveils the cultural celebrations of the diverse ethnic groups, thrive in the Himalayas, and their distinct way of celebrating such festivals in a distinct way. There are some of the beginner to long adventurous treks in Nepal, that you can joyously celebrate in this time being, where the celebrations echo, in the deusi bhailo musics and the beautiful setting of lightings at villages and towns. Hence, some of the famous recommendations to trek in Nepal during the Tihar festival are mentioned below:

• Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek: Known as a journey to the lap of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, completing this journey takes approximately 8 to 12 days, depending on the itinerary. It is a moderate journey that visits some of the famous Sherpa villages such as Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Pangboche, and other hamlets, gazing at the celebration of Tihar, with the settings of diyos, rangolis, and the Sherpa unique style, and gaze at the panoramic insight of Mount Everest, after reaching Kala Patthar (5545 m).
• ABC (Annapurna Base Camp Trek):  Reach at the foothill of the world's eighth-tallest peak - Annapurna I, that demonstrates the unqiue lifestyle of the Gurung and Magar communities, where you can enjoy the trip, with the soothing background traditional music playing, and deusi bhailo chats as well, with the panoramic vista of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massif.
• Mardi Trek: Venture out on an easy journey that navigates through the distinct terrains, via woodlands, rugged rocky sections, alpine valleys with thundering mountains, with insight into the Tihar festival, which is celebrated in an ancient route, so you can unravel the beauty of the highland, and the tea house trek.
• Langtang Valley Trekking: Easily accessible journey, where you can relish in the Langtang range, with the thriving culture of the Tamang and Yolmo communities, especially at the spiritual hub at Kyanjin Gompa, and also climb the famous summit of Tsergo Ri.
• Ghorepani Poon Hill Trip: Gaze at the panoramic 360-degree views of more than 10 notable peaks, such as Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri range, at the Poon Hill View Point at 3160 meters.
• Larke Pass Trek: Also known as the Manaslu Circuit Trek, which encircles the eighth tallest peak, Mount Manaslu at 8163 meters, crossing over the famous Larkya La Pass, at 5106 meters, navigating through the rich Tibetan villages.

Conclusion: Final Words

Thrive in the beauty and cultural celebration of the Nepalese people, which celebrates the festivals of Tihar, known as the festival of lights, beautifully adorned with the street lights, rangoli (art), deusi bhailo in the background, thrived in the traditional folk songs, dances, and chants, which signifies the historical remark of the hindu ancients, in ancient times, mentioned in many scriptures (vedas). Visit Nepal in October 2025 with us at Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition, where we motivate the enthusiastic minds like you to celebrate the thriving festivals, by jungle safari, cultural tour, city sightseeing, adventurous trekking, and even a heli ride. For further details, contact us anytime.