The Tharu community, which only worships Lakshmi during Tihar, has recently adopted the custom of playing Bhaitika and Deusi-Bhailo due to their integration with other communities.
What you should know
The Rana Tharu community of Kailali, who did not celebrate Tihar (Bhai Tika) until a few years ago, are now busy preparing for Tihar. Although Tihar is not a major festival for this community, Lakshmi Puja is celebrated as a special moment of the year.
Dil Bahadur Chaudhary, district coordinator of Tharu Civil Society Kailali, says that there have been some changes in the customs of celebrating Tihar in his community recently. ‘In the Rana Tharu and Chaudhary communities, only the day of Lakshmi Puja is celebrated specially. Nowadays, along with Deusi and Bhailo, they have also started celebrating Bhai Tika,’ he said. According to Chaudhary, Tihar was considered over in this community after the end of Lakshmi Puja.’ According to Bhalmansa Rajkumari Chaudhary of Barwatta, Godavari Municipality-5, Kailali, on the day of Lakshmi Puja, all the people of the village gather at the house of Dahit (a clan within the Chaudhary family) and worship Dhikri (a dish made from rice flour). On the day before Lakshmi Puja, it is customary for everyone to give the vegetables available in their homes to Dahit.
‘Earlier, rangoli was made with rice flour and lamps were lit. Deities and ancestors were worshipped and Tihar was concluded by worshipping Lakshmi,' says Bhalmansa Chaudhary, explaining that there has been a change in tradition. 'Earlier, Tihar was only celebrated by Lakshmi Puja. Neither Bhaitika was worn nor Deusi-Bhailo was played. Now, the custom of playing Deusi-Bhailo and wearing Bhaitika has increased for fun, from children to youth.'
The custom of celebrating Tihar differs within the Tharu community according to the clan. The Katharia Tharu community within Chaudhary is an example of this. The Kanaiya Katharia of Manaun, Kailari Rural Municipality-1, Kailali, says that the evening of Lakshmi Puja ends with the worship of a rooster. 'During Lakshmi Puja, deities are worshipped, dhikr puja is recited and sweet dishes are prepared in every household and a group feast is held. Finally, Tihar ends with the worship of the rooster,' she said. He said that the Katharia community has also started celebrating Deusibhailo and Bhai Tika these days. According to Dil Bahadur Chaudhary, coordinator of Tharu Welfare Society, the Katharia community's new year also begins from Kartik. The Chaudharys welcome the new year by celebrating Maghi. But the Katharia community believes that it begins from Kartik. According to him, the selection of the best man is also done in the villages of the Katharia community in Kartik.
In the Ranatharu community, which lives only in western Nepal, there is a difference in Tihar. Although they worship Lakshmi, they consider Bhai Tika a special day.
Sebhisingh Rana of Dhangadhi says that ploughing and ploughing are not allowed on the day of Tihar. Rana says, 'Earlier, Bhai Tika was not worn.' On this day, relatives, friends and other villagers are invited to prepare sweet dishes.’
The Rana community, which previously did not play Deusi-Bhailo, now plays Deusi with joy. Kailali-based journalist Unnati Chaudhary believes that the reason for this is the mixed community settlement and social networks. According to her, Tihar is an imported festival for the Rana Tharu community. Chaudhary also says that in recent years, cultural exchange has been taking place through the media and interaction with other communities.
