Bhai Tika’ being celebrated today

Bhai Tika-- the last day of `Yama Panchak’—is being celebrated within the country and abroad on Tuesday with much fanfare.

According to Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti (Calendar determining committee ) the most auspicious time for receiving Baitika is between 11:15 am to 11: 35 am (NST), today.

The Samiti has said that people can receive Bhaitika from 11 am till 2 pm. On the day of Bhaitika. However the committee also said that people can receive tika throughout the day.

The Samiti is a committee of leading astrologers who give out auspicious timings based on Nepalese calendar on religious and cultural occasions.

Sisters worship God Yamaraj on this day praying for long life, good health and well being of their brothers, put tika on the forehead, garlands around their neck and offer sweet and other traditional dishes on the occasion. Similarly, brothers also put garlands and tika to their sisters, offer money and pray for their long and happy life.

Brothers sit on a floor while sisters perform their pooja. Pooja involves following a traditional ritual in which sisters circle brothers three times dripping oil on the floor from a copper pitcher. Afterwards, sisters put oil in brother's ears and hairs, and then give Tika. Also breaking of walnuts by sisters prior to giving Tika to brothers is also a common practice.

Those, people who did not have brother or sister visit Ranipokhari Pond, which remained locked all year around except on the day of Bhai Tika, to receive tika there.

Though Nepali society has undergone a number of changes owing to modernization, festivals like Tihar are still observed with equal vigour. nepalnews.com pb Oct 24 06