Goddess Laxmi was born
on Aushi (no moon in the sky) but we celebrate
and welcome her birthday with full of
lights all over the country. On this day
people clean their houses and wipe their
house with Red Mud (Rato Mato) making
a small circle with a Diya (altar) on
top starting from the entrance door and
drawing a line with the red mud towards
the room where we have our Goddess Laxmi.
People offers flowers and sweet to the
goddess and prays for prosperity and wealth.
It is believed that by worshipping Laxmi
and pleasing her in return she gives us
wealth.
Young girls and women they
go door to door singing Bhailani (A special
song for Tihar). If a Bhailo groups comes
to a house then it is considered auspicious
as these groups gives us blessing and
good luck. In return people offers them
with Selroti (a special kind of Nepali
bread which is made during Tihar), sweets
and money.
Gobhardhan Puja
and Maha Puja (Worship of Gobhardhan and
Worship of Body) - Maha Puja
is the new year of the ethnic group Newars.
This puja is done specially in the evening
and is done only by the Newars. Maha puja
is known as self-puja. It is done to purify
our body. In this puja a Mandap decorated
with Saipatri (marigold flower), sweets
and fruits and a special Mala (garland)
which is made of thread is kept. Each
remember of the family has one Mandap.
A female member of the family offers the
person sitting on the Mandap a Shagun
with her hands crossed. Shagun consist
usually consist of fried eggs, fruits,
sweets, meat, fish, lentil patties. In
the left hand with egg and fish and in
the right hand Rakshi (Alcohol). During
this day many Nepali children and young
men go house to house singing Deusi. Deusi
is very similar to Bhailo.
Bhai Tika (Brother
Worship) - It is the last day
of Tihar. Bhai Tika known as brother and
sister day, sister pray to Yamraja for
her brother's long life and prosperity.
A Mandap is made in the
name of her brother in the same way as
it is done during Maha puja. Then the
sister put Paanch Rangi Tika (Five colored)
-- Yellow, green, red, blue and white
color ,offers him Shagun, fruits and sweets
and in return the brother gives their
sister gifts or money. On this day ,Rani
Pokhari Temple will be opened for those
who don't have any brother or sister.
They go there and the pandits (priests)
puts for them Tika.
Tihar or Dipawali (known as Diwali in India)
is a Hindu festival of celebrated for five
days during late October. The festival,
which is also known as festival of light,
has a tradition of decorating all the houses
with bright lights. Traditionally, oil lit
lamps were used as source of light but increasing
people use candles and electronic lights
as well (like the one used in Christmas).