Tihar (Deepawali)
तिहार
November 7, 2026 – November 11, 2026 · Kartik 22–26, 2083 BS
Nationwide
Plan a trip around Tihar (Deepawali)History & origin
A five-day cycle honoring the animals and relationships that sustain a household, culminating in Bhai Tika, which reenacts the legend of Yama, god of death, sparing his sister Yamuna's brother after she marked his forehead with a protective tika — the origin of siblings' mutual blessing today.
How it’s celebrated
Each day has its own ritual: crows are fed as messengers of death, dogs are garlanded and given treats in thanks for their loyalty, cows are honored as a form of the goddess Laxmi, and oxen are worshipped for their farm labor. On Laxmi Puja, homes are cleaned and lit with oil lamps and candles to welcome the goddess of wealth, and groups go door to door singing bhailo and deusi songs for small gifts. The cycle ends with Bhai Tika, when sisters apply a multicolored tika to their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long life in return for gifts and protection.
Tips for visitors
Laxmi Puja night is genuinely beautiful — homes and streets lit with oil lamps and string lights — and Kukur Tihar (the day dogs are garlanded and fed) is a uniquely Nepali sight for first-time visitors.
Related journeys — Hindu Pilgrimage
Sacred Nepal: Two Traditions
A ten-day comparative journey through Nepal's Hindu and Buddhist sacred landscapes, from Kathmandu's temples to Namo Buddha and Lumbini.
Muktinath Pilgrimage Journey
A seven-day pilgrimage to Muktinath, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, traveling from Pokhara through the dramatic high-altitude landscape of Lower Mustang.
Pashupatinath & Guhyeshwari
A four-day journey anchored around Pashupatinath, one of the most significant Shiva temples in the world, and neighboring Guhyeshwari, a major Shakti site on the same stretch of the Bagmati.
Didn't find quite the right fit?
Any journey here can be adapted, or we can build one from scratch around what actually matters to you — the traditions, pace, dates, group size and budget. Tell us what you have in mind and our team will put together a curated proposal.
Curate My Journey