Tihar 2025 in Nepal

Tihar is the second-most important festival in Nepal after Dashain. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, akin to Diwali in India. The main celebration activities include:

• Thanking animals for the harvest
• Worshipping Lord Yama (the god of death) for fair judgement regarding deaths
• Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth, believed to have been born on Tihar) for prosperity and wealth in life
• Worshipping Govardhan Mountain (a mountain saving people from flooding) for safety

In 2025, Tihar falls on October 21st with celebrations lasting 5 days from October 18th to October 23rd.

Tihar is celebrated on the night of the new moon in the 8^th month of the Hindu calendar (the month of Kartik), which is considered to be the darkest night of the year. The (international) date changes every year because it is based on a lunar calendar, but it normally falls in mid-to-late October or November.

To help ward off the darkness of the night of the new moon, all of Nepal is decorated in string lights, candles, and clay lanterns (diyas). Most markets, homes, and temples are beautifully lit up in celebration. Thus, Tihar is also called a 'festival of lights.

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5-Day Celebrations of Tihar 2025

Each day of Tihar is celebrated through different rituals and traditions. The first three days (October 18th to 21st in 2025) focus on the worship of animals and prayers to Lord Yama (the god of death) and Goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth). In Nepali culture, it is believed that gratitude and worship shown to animals and gods will bring success and luck into people's lives.

The subject of worship on the 4^th day (October 22nd) depends on the ethnic group and culture the person belongs to: oxen, Govardhan Mountain, or oneself.

On the last day (October 23rd), the bond between brothers and sisters is celebrated through a beautiful ritual.

Day 1: Kaag Tihar (October 18th, 2025) - the Worship of Crows

Kaag is the Nepali word for 'crow' and on this day, crows, which are believed to be the messengers of death, are worshipped and thanked. People put sweets and different types of grains on the roofs of houses or on the ground outside for the crows to eat. This food is sometimes placed on a banana leaf.

It is believed that by feeding and thanking the crows, it is possible to avoid misfortune and that the crows will protect those who feed them from evil.

Day 2: Kukur Tihar (October 20th, 2025) - the Worship of Dogs

The second day is for the worship of dogs, who are not only as man's best friend, but are also believed to be the guardians of the gates of heaven in Nepal.

On this day, people thank all dogs, whether they are pets or strays, for their loyalty and friendship by placing a marigold garland around their necks and a red tika mark (a little red dot signifying purity of faith and devotion) on their foreheads.

Afterward, a ritual is performed for the dogs and they are treated to a large feast that can include milk, meat, dog food, and anything else that dogs like to eat.

The day of Kukur Tihar has become somewhat famous in the West, especially among pet lovers who appreciate this celebration for its purity and beauty. If you love dogs, then Kukur Tihar is a great chance to thank them and also capture beautiful photos of the special bond between people and dogs.

Day 3: Gai Tihar (October 21st, 2025) - the Worship of Cows and Lakshmi

On the main day of celebrations, cows and the Goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) are worshipped. Families get together to eat delicious food and cook a large feast and perform the ritual for goddess Lakshmi. They also prepare many delicious sweets to give to visitors and food to give to the crows, dogs, and cows (on their respective worship days).

Cows are considered to be sacred in Hinduism and are symbolic of wealth. This belief stems from ancient times when having a cow was important for the survival of a family.

To thank cows for all they have done for humans, a garland of marigolds is placed around their neck, a red tika is placed on their forehead, and they are fed with the best grass.

The afternoon is reserved for the worship of Lakshmi. To thank the goddess for all the luck she had brought in the previous year, oil lanterns and candles are lit in houses and temples.

A decorative rangoli (colorful floor mural) is also created in front of a doorway and or window as a symbol of welcoming the prosperity (brought by Lakshmi) that will come in the next year.

People also draw footprints at the entrance of their homes to symbolize the coming of the goddess. At night, groups of girls go from home to home performing songs and dances in exchange for small amounts of money given by each house.

Day 4: Goru Tihar (October 22nd, 2025) - the Worship of the Ox, Mountain, or Oneself

On the fourth day of Tihar, there are three different worship traditions, and the one that is chosen depends on the cultural background of the person.

Most Nepali Hindus worship the ox on this day. Oxen have always been important to the livelihood of farmers and are worshipped in the same way as dogs and cows are during the previous days of celebrations.

People who follow the beliefs of Vaishnavism (a certain sect of Hinduism that follows Lord Vishnu) often perform a Govardhan puja - a ritual dedicated to Govardhan Mountain - on the day of Goru Tihar. Govardhan Mountain symbolizes the victory of Lord Krishna (the 8^th avatar of Vishnu, the god of protection) and is celebrated with offerings and mountain replicas made from cow dung.

According to the legend, Lord Krishna's home of Gokul was flooding because of a curse from Lord Indra (the king of the gods). In order to protect his people, Krishna raised Govardhan Mountain above the floodwaters, and the people and animals of Gokul went to the mountain for safety and gave offerings to the mountain as thanks for saving their lives.

For the Newar community (the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas), the fourth day is a time for worshipping oneself and purifying the soul. Newar families often perform a ritual called Maha Puja, which focuses on new beginnings, and eat a large feast together.

Day 5: Bhai Tika (October 23rd, 2025) - Celebrating the Bond between Brothers and Sisters

The final day of Tihar is dedicated to the celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, families gather and watch as siblings perform a special ritual that is meant to wish well-being on the brother and guarantee protection for the sister.

During the ritual, sisters chant holy mantras and put a tika, holy red mark, on their brother's forehead. Brothers often give gifts to their sisters as a form of thanks. This day is meant to reenact the story of Lord Yama (the god of death) and his sister Yamuna and the love they held for each other.

The story says that Yama was supposed to meet his sister Yamuna, but was unable to make it because he was busy with his work deciding which souls to send to heaven. When Yama didn't arrive, Yamuna grew worried and tried to send messages to her brother.

First, she sent a message with a crow, and when it wasn't answered she sent one with a dog, and then with a cow. On the fifth day of Tihar when her messages weren't answered, she went to go meet her brother. When she arrived, she performed a special ritual for Yama and blessed him with good fortune.

This legend also explains the worship of crows, dogs, and cows.

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How to Celebrate Tihar as a Traveler

Tihar is a great time to travel in Nepal for visitors who want to have beautiful and authentic experiences with locals. Nepalis are very generous people and often invite travelers into their homes for meals and to participate in ceremonies during the holiday.

But besides joining a Nepali family for the celebrations, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Tihar in Nepal. Here are some of the best:

• Explore Kathmandu which is full of beautiful lights, religious celebrations, cultural shows, and festival events. There, you can head to the famous Thamel Market for souvenirs and also visit beautiful temples to witness rituals. Fireworks explode above the city while children play with firecrackers and sparklers.
• Head out into the streets with your red powder, marigold garlands, and treats to celebrate Kukur Tihar and thank dogs for their loyalty.
• Visit the Rani Pokhari Temple which is only open to the public during Bhai Tika every year. There, you can walk around the edges of the serene lake and take in the views of the surrounding city.
• Head to the villages to experience a more local celebration. Stay near Chitwan National Park to learn about how the Tharu group celebrates, or hike the loop near Annapurna and stop in small villages along the way to have unique and authentic festival experiences.

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