THE HINDU FESTIVAL ‘TIHAR'

Tihar is one of the greatest festivals. Tihar is widely celebrated by Hindus as a great festival. It falls on the month of Kartik ( October-November ), at the end of autumn. This celebration lasts for five days.

                Since it is celebrated for five days, it is also rightly called Panchak or distinctly Yama Panchak. It is in a sense the Festival of Lights. So people also call it Deepawali of Diwali.

                The specially of this festival is that the crow, the dog, the cow, the bullock and the brother (man) are worshipped during this period. The first day is the Crow Festival when the crow is worshipped and fed. The second day is the Dog Festival. The third day is the Cow Festival when the cow is worshipped and fed. On this night every house is illuminated with different kinds of lights and lamps. The fourth day is the Bullock Festival when the Bullock is worshipped and fed. The fifth and final day is the Brother Festival when the brother is worshipped and fed by his sisters.

                People eat different delicious food during this occasion. People keep their houses neat and clean. Cleanliness is the prominent features of this festival, Laxmi . Goddess of Wealth, is worshipped at the night of the cow Festival.

It is said that Yamaraj, the God of the Hell, was worshipped by his sister for the first time in the long past.