Tihar festival begins; Kaag pooja today
Tihar, the second biggest festival of the Hindus, which is known as the festival of lights has begun from today.
Also known as Yamapanchak, the first day of the five-day festival began today with the Kaag Pooja (prayer of crow).
The first day is observed by offering food to the Kaag (crow) as per religious traditions. The crow is regarded as the messenger of Yamraj, the Lord of Death. Popular belief is that one sins if he/she eats without worshipping the crow today.
The second day of the five-day long festival is Kukur Pooja (prayer of dogs). People offer food to dogs on the day.
The third day of the festival is marked with the prayers to Gai (the cow) and Laxmi (the goddess of wealth), but this time the Laxmi pooja falls on the fourth day with only the Gai pooja on the third day. The next day is the Gobardhan Pooja and Bhai Tika is the final day of the Tihar festival.
People visit door to door and play 'Deusi and Bhailo' during the festival, which make the festival fun and enchanting.
On the final day of the Yamapanchak, brothers and sisters worship each other and offer Tika, the celebration of which is believed to increase the fame and life of the brothers.
During the Yamapanchak, people clean their houses and surroundings and offer worship to Lord Yamraj, in the belief that the house and the family would be spared from unnatural and untimely death.
Oil-fed lamps are lit and night illumination is also carried out during this festival.
The people of the Newar community perform what is called ‘Mha Puja (worship of the self)’ on the fourth day of the Yamapanchak. nepalnews.com pb Oct 19 06
