Dashain and Tihar are two major Hindu festivals celebrated in Nepal. Dashain is a 15-day festival that takes place in October or November and is the longest and most important festival in Nepal. Tihar, also known as Deepawali or the Festival of Lights, is a five-day festival that takes place in October or November. Both of these festivals are celebrated to honor the gods and goddesses, as well as to pay tribute to one's ancestors.
Dashain is a time of family gatherings and traditional rituals. It is believed that the goddess Durga, who is revered as the protector of the Hindu faith, descended to earth during Dashain to vanquish the demon Mahishasura. To honor Durga, Hindus offer sacrifices of goats, chickens, and other animals. The tenth day of Dashain, known as Vijayadashami, is the most important day of the festival and is marked by the sacrifice of a male animal, such as a buffalo or a male goat.
During Dashain, families also visit temples and perform puja, or prayers, to the gods and goddesses. They also exchange gifts and feast on traditional foods such as sel roti, a type of fried bread, and barfi, a type of sweet made from milk and sugar.
Tihar, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day festival that takes place during the Hindu month of Kartik. It is a time of celebration and thanksgiving, and is marked by the lighting of diyas, or small oil lamps, in homes and temples. The first day of Tihar is known as Kaag Tihar, or the Day of the Crow, and is dedicated to the worship of the crow, which is believed to be the messenger of the gods. The second day, Kukur Tihar, or the Day of the Dog, is dedicated to the worship of dogs, which are believed to be the guardians of the home. The third day, Gai Tihar, or the Day of the Cow, is dedicated to the worship of cows, which are considered sacred in Hinduism. The fourth day, Laxmi Puja, is dedicated to the goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The fifth day, Bhai Tika, or the Day of the Brother, is a day for brothers and sisters to exchange gifts and express their love for each other.
Both Dashain and Tihar are important festivals in Nepal and are a time for families and communities to come together and celebrate their culture and traditions. They are a time for giving thanks and for making offerings to the gods and goddesses, and for expressing love and appreciation for one's family and friends.
