The festival of Yama Panchak, also known as Tihar, which is considered the festival of light, is officially beginning today. This festival is celebrated every year from Kartik Krishna Trayodashi to Kartik Shukla Dwitiya. As Dwadashi and Trayodashi tithi will begin at 1:23 pm today, the second biggest festival of Nepali people, Tihar, has begun.

The Nepal Panchanga Nirikh Bikas Samiti has stated that Dhanteras i.e. Dhantrayodashi festival should be celebrated today as Kartik Krishna Trayodashi Tithi falls after 1:23 pm. Committee member and theologian Devmani Bhattarai informed that Yamadeepdan will also start from today. He said that Kaag Tihar falls on Sunday.

It is a classical belief that Dhantrayodashi and Yamadeepdan festivals should be celebrated on the day of Trayodashi Tithi in the evening. Committee chairman Professor Shambhu Prasad Dhakal informed that this decision was made according to the classical belief that Yamadeepdan should be started on the day of Trayodashi in the evening and Kaag Tihar should be celebrated on the day of Trayodashi in the morning, i.e. at sunrise.

It is believed that by offering Yamadeepdan on the occasion of Yamapanchak, one can get freedom from the suffering of Yama. Dhanvantari Jayanti falls on Sunday. The committee also stated that Kukur Tihar and Lakshmi Puja fell on the same day on Monday due to the change in the date. Yamadeepdan is done based on the number of family members.

Theology expert Prof. Toyaraj Nepal says that Yamadeepdan should be done facing south. Yamadeepdan is done from Kartik Krishna Trayodashi to Kartik Shukla Dwitiya i.e. Bhai Tika. Committee chairman Dhakal said that on Sunday, Kartik 2, at sunrise, Kukur Tihar should be celebrated in the morning by taking a bath in hell and performing Lakshmi Puja in the evening. On Monday morning, before sunrise, a bath is taken with an apamarga. This is called Narak Snan.

It is believed that by bathing ritually on this day in the morning and lighting a lamp and floating it in the river, one does not have to suffer the torment of hell. Since Chaturdashi and Aunsi Tithi will be observed on Kartik 3 at 2:52 pm, Lakshmi Puja also has to be performed on this day. There is a classical method of performing Lakshmi Puja on the day when Aunsi Tithi falls at night.

This year, Kartik 4th is Tuesday, Aunsi Tithi till 4:29 pm. No festival of Tihar has fallen on this day. Although Kartik 4th falls in the middle of Yama Panchak, i.e. Tihar, no karma has fallen as prescribed by the scriptures.

Cow and Govardhan Puja has fallen on Wednesday, Kartik 5th. Halitihar, Bali Puja and Atma (Mha) Puja and Nepal Sambat 1146 have fallen on this day. There is a scripture that cows, ox, Govardhan and Atma (Mha) Puja should be worshipped on the day of Kartik Shukla Pratipada. According to the scripture, the New Year should be celebrated on the day of sunrise on the day of Pratipada, Nepal Sambat 1145 starts from this day. The committee has stated that Bhaitika should be worn on Thursday, Kartik 6th.

On this day, at 11:39 am Laxman Panthi, a member of the committee, informed that the auspicious time for Bhai Tika is at 10:00 AM. The committee has stated that Bhai Tika should be done facing west. The brother who wants to apply Bhai Tika should sit facing west. The sister who applies it should face east.

It is also scriptural for the general public to apply Tika at noon. The state administrators should apply Tika on the day of the festival. Bhai Puja, which is also known as Kija Puja in Newari language, is celebrated on Kartik 6. The committee has stated that there is no problem in applying Bhai Tika until sunset in the evening.

On the occasion of Tihar, which is known as the festival of twinkling lights, various types of lamps have been lit in the capital and major cities since a week ago. Even walking around the city with the light of the lamps makes the mind happy. Some people continue Deepawali from the day of Ashwin Shukla Purnima, i.e. Kojagrat Purnima. The trend of worshipping Lakshmi on Kojagrat Purnima and continuing Diwali from that day onwards has also started to grow in urban areas.

Kathmandu Valley, which is usually deserted during Bada Dashain, becomes festive with lights on Tihar. Deusi is played on the days of Bhailo and Govardhan Puja to ensure that the day of Lakshmi Puja is auspicious. Especially in various districts of Karnali and Sudurpaschim Province, there is a tradition of playing Deusi Bhailo from the day of Kojagrat Purnima.