As we grow older, we become burdened with responsibilities. And the once colorful Tihar festival is becoming colorless. Earlier, we didn't have to think much. In the fun of Tihar, we even forgot about our school homework.
What you should know
When I think of Tihar, I think of the village and my maternal grandmother. And I think of the village youth club. We used to save the money we earned playing Deusi, buy a madal and a deck, and play songs. The memories of going to Deusi while playing songs seem like yesterday. The jhirjhire and firecrackers still burn in my memory.
My mother had an uncle who made me her brother. My mother and I would sit all night and cook sela roti. When we went to eat sela roti, they would say that we should not eat it without performing Lakshmi puja. We could eat it only after completing the puja the next day.
Those days are also etched in my memory on the day of tika. The joy of wearing colorful tika and garlands was unique. The day of tika was a different joy.
Saru didi would cut a banana leaf and apply it to my forehead. At that time, Soni didi was holding the leaf. When she applied tika and took out the banana leaf, the tika was crooked. At that time, didi had said that if the tika was crooked, it would be lucky.
The didi would put fruits, sela roti, walnuts and all the spices in a tray and give them to me one by one.
Five sisters. I had no money. My mother gave 50 rupees to the elder sister, then 40, 20, and then 10 to the younger sister. Now they give it in an envelope. I make bags of things and give them in bags. I really like giving bags. Since I live in Kathmandu and get tika done here, I had to give some gifts to the sisters along with money, which I give in bags.
During Tihar when I was a child, I would go to play Deusi with my sisters, the sisters would collect them and take them to play Deusi. We would play for three or four days and go on a picnic. And then we would pack our things. Everyone had a common dream. That dream kept us going. Now the sisters are married. There are nieces and nephews. Everyone has more responsibilities. Now they have tika done and returned to their respective jobs. As we grow older, we are burdened with responsibilities. And the colorful Tihar that used to be is becoming colorless. Earlier, we didn't think much. We used to forget our school homework in the fun of Tihar.
Now, when we apply tika, we can't all be together. Some are here, some are there. We apply it wherever we are. Sometimes, we feel sad. That's why we get excited every year remembering that childhood Tihar. We imagine that we can go back to those days.
(Based on a conversation with Hussain, Samarpan Shree )
