Baburam Timalsina
There are countless festivals celebrated throughout the Hindu kingdom. The traditions of celebrating them are mostly religious and social. Primarily, it would not be an exaggeration to say that among the festivals celebrated throughout the year based on the aforementioned criteria, Tihar (Yamapanchak) is a unique festival for all Hindus spread across the world.
However, in the context of our country Nepal and Nepalis, it is found to occupy the second place after Dashain. Throughout the year, there are fourteen “Panchaks” (five-day periods) based on the lunar calendar, but only two are worshipped or significant: Bhishmapanchak and Yamapanchak. Other Panchaks are not considered auspicious for good deeds. Thus, the time consumed by the five constellations – Jyestha, Moola, Purvashadha, Uttarashadha, and Shravana – among the 27 constellations mentioned in the Panchang (Hindu calendar) is considered a Panchak. In our culture, the Panchak of the Kartik month holds a distinct importance compared to other Panchaks.
According to religious scriptures and Puranas, it can be said that these five days are named Yamapanchak because of the special worship of Yamaraj. These fall on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi, Chaturdashi, Amavasya, Pratipada, and Dwitiya. As mentioned in the scriptures, various animals and birds are considered messengers of Yamaraj, who has taken an invisible form in this world. Among them, crows and dogs are considered prominent and are traditionally worshipped. On the first day of Yamapanchak, or Kartik Krishna Trayodashi, crows are worshipped by offering them rice or a “kak bali” (crow offering), praying for them to deliver an auspicious message to Yamaraj. In the evening, lamps are lit in various corners of houses for Yamaraj.
On the second day, or Chaturdashi, people wake up in the morning, without speaking to anyone, go to their respective reservoirs or rivers, brush their teeth with Apamarg (prickly chaff flower), bathe with amla (Indian gooseberry), and after becoming pure, light as many lamps as their age, worship Yamaraj, and offer water with cupped hands. After this, they return home and worship and feed rice to the dog, considered a messenger of Yamaraj, whether it’s kept at home or in the neighborhood. On the same day, for Lakshmi Puja, the house premises are cleaned and decorated with cow dung and clay. Lakshmi’s footprints are made from the crossroads to the place of worship, and in the evening, after worshipping Kubera and Indra, Lakshmi is worshipped. To please Lakshmi, “Dyāusi Bhailo” and gambling, which are considered symbols of Yamagatha or related to Baligatha, are played. This tradition is practiced in our folk culture in accordance with scriptures. It is believed that in ancient times, a poor Brahmin named Bali was gambling with Naga maidens on this very day, and due to Lakshmi’s grace, he acquired all their pearls and gems. Based on this scriptural foundation, the practice of worshipping Lakshmi, gambling, and playing Dyāusi Bhailo continues in Hindu society on that day. Therefore, even though gambling is considered illegal at other times, it is even officially exempted during this period because it is in accordance with our religious scriptures. Hence, during this time, we gather with neighbors and fellow villagers to gamble.
The next day, or Amavasya, after completing daily rituals, a cow, considered a living embodiment of Lakshmi, is worshipped with Panchopachar or Shodashopachar (five or sixteen offerings), and prepared dishes or rice are fed to it. In the evening of the same day, among the Newar community, there is a separate cultural practice called Mha Puja, or self-worship. On the fourth day of Tihar, or Kartik Shukla Pratipada, a Govardhan mountain made of cow dung is built near the cowshed, fruit trees are planted, decorated with flags and banners, and after worshipping the mountain, bulls are worshipped and fed rice and flour. Bulls are not put to work or ploughed on that day. This is considered to be in accordance with Hindu religious scriptures.
On the last day of Yamapanchak, or Bhai Tika, after completing daily rituals in the morning, Yama Puja is performed. In ancient times, Yamuna, the daughter of Surya, worshipped Yamaraj and her brother for his longevity and health. Therefore, even today, Hindu women, wishing for the longevity of their brothers, first establish and worship a lamp, kalash (pot), and Ganesha. Then they worship Bimira (a type of citrus fruit) as a representation of Yamaraj. After this, they worship their brothers and offer them various fruits and sweets, while brothers also give dakshina (offerings) to their sisters as much as possible.
Thus, this festival, celebrated for five days with traditional customs, has been an integral part of Hindu culture from ancient times until today, keeping scriptural beliefs alive. While Western folk culture is gradually entering, some cultural experts say that there has been some decline in this. However, the modern generation has pointed out that we should not abandon many such festivals and beliefs present in our culture, but rather make them more accessible, less expensive, and free from social ostentation. Therefore, identifying this imperishable culture, which is inextricably linked to important aspects of human life such as modern behavioral science, longevity, health, and prosperity, and celebrating it as a national festival, can be considered its main feature. Thus, the first day of this five-day festival is named Kag Tihar, the second day Kukur Tihar and Lakshmi Puja, the third day Gai Tihar, the fourth day Goru Tihar, and the fifth day Bhai Tihar. Apart from what has been mentioned about this festival, it can be said that there is even more faith, devotion, and research being done on it in modern society. We can maintain its ancient dignity by celebrating it not as a social display, but purely based on Hindu tradition.
