Committee Chairman Prof. Shambhu Prasad Dhakal said that while there is no obstacle to applying tika throughout the day today, the Abhijit Muhurta at 11:39 am is the best time to seek the site.
What you should know
The main day of Tihar, also known as Yama Panchak, is being celebrated today, Bhai Tika. Today, sisters wish their brothers long life, health, and prosperity with devotion, faith, and loyalty by applying five- or seven-color tika.
On the sixth day of Tihar, the second biggest festival of Nepal, celebrated on the second day of Kartik Shukla Dwitiya every year, brothers are receiving tika from their sisters today. Today is also known as Yama Dwitiya. Although Tihar, also known as Yama Panchak, lasts for five days, this year the tithi has been increased and Bhai Tika has fallen on the sixth day, according to the Nepal Panchang Nirikh Bikas Samiti.
After the sisters apply tika to their brothers, the brothers also apply tika to their sisters. It is a classical belief that worshipping sisters brings unbroken good fortune and prosperity, informed Prof. 1 Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, a theologian and member of the Nepal Panchang Nirikh Bikas Samiti.
Although there is no obstacle to applying tika throughout the day today, the Abhijit Muhurta at 11:39 am is the best time to find a site, said the committee chairman Prof. Shambhu Prasad Dhakal.
This year, sisters applying Bhai Tika should face east and brothers applying it should face west, the committee has stated. If you do this, the moon in the west, which is in Libra, will be facing you. There is a classical rule that the moon should be placed in front (facing) or on the right in auspicious deeds. There is a classical rule that the moon should be placed on the right or facing you while performing auspicious deeds.
The committee has stated that the state administrator should apply tika on the site. Today, on the day of Lakshmi Puja, after worshiping the lamp, kalash and Ganesh installed, the eight-fold Ashta Dal written on the main plate, including Markandeya, Ashwatthama, Bali, Vyas, Hanuman, Vibhishan, Kripacharya and Parashurama, the eight Chiranjeevi, Chitragupta, Yamaraj, Yamuna and Dharmaraj, the forest gods such as Ganapati, and the nine planets, the sisters sprinkle oil on the brothers and, according to tradition, apply Saptarangi or Pancharangi tika, velvet, Sayapatri or Godavari, and flower garlands.
Although it is being promoted that seven-colored tika is worn during Tihar, according to the classical belief, the tika worn during Tihar is of five colors: red, white, yellow, green and blue, said religious scholar Bhattarai.
After the tika, sisters give their brothers food such as walnuts, katus, spices and selroti, and brothers also show their respect by giving their sisters clothes and dakshina, symbols of good fortune, as per their share.
Balgopaleshwar temple opened for those who do not have sisters and brothers
It is customary for the Balgopaleshwar temple located in the middle of Ranipokhari in Kathmandu to be opened on this day for those who do not have sisters. Balgopaleshwar temple opens only once a year on this day. Those who do not have sisters and brothers visit this temple on the day of Bhai Tika to worship, darshan and wear tika.
Devotees at Khanjaneshwor Mahadev
Similarly, at Khanjaneshwor Mahadev Temple in Jayabageshwori, those who do not have sisters or brothers worship and visit and apply tika.
Before 2035 BS, the Balgopaleshwor Temple inside Ranipokhari was closed due to the problem of people jumping into the pond to enter. At that time, there was a crowd of brothers and sisters without sisters at Khanjaneshwor Mahadev Temple in Jayabageshwori. Recently, even though there were not as many people as before, there is a queue of devotees here on the day of Bhai Tika.
After 2035 BS, the Balgopaleshwor Temple inside Ranipokhari has started opening regularly. The day of Bhai Tika is celebrated as Kija Puja by the Newar community. It is said that some of the Newar community of Bhaktapur performed Kija Puja on Wednesday itself. According to the Bhaktapur Municipality, this was done as per the decision made by the priest of Taleju Temple in Bhaktapur.
