Tihar festival concludes: sisters, brothers exchange tika on final day

Tihar festival concludes: sisters, brothers exchange tika on final day

Kathmandu, Oct 23: With the celebration of Tihar tika also known as Bhaitika, this year's Tihar festival concluded on Thursday.

Though the Tihar which is also called the Yamapanchak is observed for five days, this time, the festival covers six days due to overlapping of dates, according to astrologers. 

On the final day of the Tihar festival, sisters offered tika to their brothers wishing them happiness, long life and prosperity.

The auspicious hour for offering the tika was 11:39 am for this year. However, there was no obstruction for observing the tika throughout the day. As per the astrological belief, those in the leadership of the State should observe the tika at the auspicious hours, according to a member of the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Prof Dr Devmani Bhattarai. 

To observe the Bhaitika, brothers are seated at a specially anointed place around which a trail of mustard oil is drawn. The sisters then offer the brothers tika and garlands of ‘dubo’ ' marigold' and ‘makhamali’. After placing colourful tika on the foreheads of their brothers, sisters offer them a treat consisting varieties of sweets, walnut, spices and ‘Sel’, a special kind of bread cooked in oil.

Brothers also offer tika to their sisters in return, wishing them happiness and good luck, and give them gifts. According to Prof. Dr. Bhattarai, it is astrologically believed that worshipping one’s sisters brings immense fortune and prosperity. Even those who have no brothers or sisters of their own received tika from others whom they regard as brothers and sisters.

The Balgopaleshwor Temple in Ranipokhari was open for the Bhaitika celebration on Sunday. The temple is open only once in a year. Those who have not their own sisters visit the temple to receive the tika. 

During the festival of lights, colour and flowers, even the birds and animals- crow, dog and ox- were worshipped. Another significant day of the festival, Laxmipuja was also celebrated with fanfare across the country. (RSS)