Nepal’s Five-Day Tihar Festival Begins with Dhanteras Celebrations

Nepal’s second-largest festival, Tihar, begins today, with celebrations starting with Dhanteras, a tradition associated with the purchase and worship of precious metals and household utensils.

On this occasion, people traditionally buy gold and silver jewellery, coins and new metal utensils, bringing them home and worshipping them as part of the celebration.

In the ancient Mithila region of southern Nepal, including Mahottari district in Madhesh Province, the festival begins with the lighting of rows of lamps at dusk.

Locally known as Diwali, the occasion is marked by the purchase and worship of new metal utensils and jewellery to please Goddess Lakshmi, associated with wealth and prosperity.

Under Mithila tradition, families illuminate their homes with rows of lamps as they mark the beginning of the festival.

The festival continues with a series of rituals over the coming days. Crow worship and Dhanvantari Jayanti, traditionally observed on the thirteenth lunar day, fall on Saturday this year due to the lunar calendar.

Dog worship and Lakshmi Puja will be observed on Sunday, while Bhai Tika falls on Wednesday,11th November .