Tihar, also known as Deepawali or the Festival of Lights, is one of the most cherished festivals in Nepal. In 2025, Tihar will be celebrated from October 19th (Sunday) to October 23rd (Thursday), corresponding with Kartik 2 to Kartik 6, 2082 in the Bikram Sambat (BS) Nepali calendar. This guide covers everything you need to know about Tihar 2025: its dates, cultural meaning, celebrations, and what makes it such a special and vibrant time across Nepal.
What is Tihar? Why Is It Called the Festival of Lights?
Tihar is a grand, five-day festival observed widely across Nepal, involving the worship of animals, the goddess Laxmi, and the celebration of strong family bonds. It is called the “festival of lights” because, during these days, homes, courtyards, and public areas are decorated with dazzling oil lamps (diyos), candles, electric fairy lights, and intricate rangolis—turning cities and villages into glowing spectacles each night. The festival highlights light’s triumph over darkness, hope over despair, and harmony in nature and family.
While India celebrates “Diwali,” the Nepali Tihar has distinct customs including honoring animals and unique sibling rituals. The entire country comes alive with music, shimmering lights, laughter, and a sense of unity.
Tihar 2025: Exact Dates (AD & BS)
Here’s a precise breakdown of Tihar 2025 dates, with both Gregorian and Nepali calendars (Bikram Sambat):
| Tihar Day | Date (2025 AD) | Date (2082 BS) |
|---|---|---|
| Kag Tihar (Crow Day) | October 19, Sun | Kartik 2 |
| Kukur Tihar (Dog Day) | October 20, Mon | Kartik 3 |
| Gai Tihar & Laxmi Puja | October 21, Tue | Kartik 4 |
| Govardhan/Mha Puja | October 22, Wed | Kartik 5 |
| Bhai Tika | October 23, Thu | Kartik 6 |
Tihar always follows soon after Dashain, the biggest Nepali festival, making late October a spectacular and festive season throughout the country.
The Five Days of Tihar: Detailed Celebration Guide
Day 1 – Kag Tihar (Crow Day)
On the first day, crows (kag) are worshipped as messengers of Yama, the god of death. Early in the morning, people place rice, grains, and other offerings on rooftops or outdoors to please the crows. This ritual is believed to reduce grief and bad luck in the coming year, as crows are seen as carriers of news from the spiritual world.
Day 2 – Kukur Tihar (Dog Day)
Dogs (kukur) are honored for their loyalty and their role in Nepali spiritual belief as protectors and guides to the afterlife. On this day, all dogs—whether stray or pets—are decorated with vivid flower garlands (mala) and red tikas on their foreheads. They are offered special meals, meat, bread, and treats. This touching tradition showcases the unique bond between people and dogs in Nepali culture.
Day 3 – Gai Tihar & Laxmi Puja (Cow Day & Goddess of Wealth)
The third day is especially meaningful, with two major rituals. In the morning, cows (gai), considered sacred and a symbol of prosperity, are worshipped and adorned with garlands and tikas. Later comes Laxmi Puja, the most visually stunning evening of Tihar, dedicated to the goddess Laxmi, the bringer of wealth and fortune.
Homes are thoroughly cleaned, floors are decorated with colorful rangoli (mandalas made from colored powders or flowers), and countless oil lamps and electric lights are lit everywhere to invite Laxmi inside. It is believed that the goddess only enters the cleanest and brightest homes. Offerings include sweets, fruits, flowers, and coins. This night, the festival’s spirit is at its peak, with neighborhoods shimmering and children singing “Deusi-Bhailo” songs from house to house, collecting treats and blessings.
Day 4 – Govardhan Puja / Mha Puja / Goru Tihar
The focus of the fourth day can vary. Among many Hindus, this is the day to worship oxen (goru), vital for agriculture, by feeding and decorating them in gratitude for their hard work. The same day is Govardhan Puja, commemorating the legendary act of Lord Krishna raising Govardhan hill to protect villagers, which is celebrated by building small hill replicas from dung and decorating them.
Among the Newar community, this day is “Mha Puja”—a remarkable self-purification and soul-worship ritual that also marks the start of the Newari New Year. Mha Puja rituals involve blessing each family member’s inner self and are accompanied by feasting and celebrations.
Day 5 – Bhai Tika (Brother-Sister Day)
Tihar ends with its most cherished ceremony: Bhai Tika, a celebration of the sister-brother bond. Sisters prepare a seven-colored tika (saptarangi tika) and place it on their brothers’ foreheads, offering garlands, sweets, and prayers for long life and good fortune. In return, brothers give gifts—often clothing or money—and vow to protect their sisters. For those without a biological brother or sister, cousins or close friends take the symbolic role. This special ritual underscores Tihar’s unique focus on family connection and love.
How Tihar Is Celebrated: Traditions and Modern Touches
Lighting and Decorations
Every evening of Tihar, homes and cities burst into color. Clay oil lamps (“diyos”), candles, and rows of modern electric fairy lights illuminate windows, doors, and courtyards. “Rangoli” or “mandalas” made with colored rice, sand, or flowers grace entrances, welcoming prosperity. In recent years, eco-friendly diyas and solar-powered lights have become more popular, reflecting a blend of tradition and innovation.
Songs and Community Fun: Deusi-Bhailo
A signature custom of Tihar is “Deusi-Bhailo.” Groups of children and young adults travel from house to house singing, dancing, and offering blessings in traditional folk songs. Households respond with money, treats, or fruit—a fun and communal way of sharing goodwill and celebrating together. Some neighborhoods arrange Deusi-Bhailo competitions or cultural shows.
Gift-Giving and Family Gatherings
Much like Christmas in other countries, Tihar is a time for feasting, sharing sweets (like sel roti, laddu, and anarsa), and exchanging gifts among relatives and friends. Families gather to eat, chat, make rangoli, and enjoy each other’s company. Shops and markets are busy, with people buying special food, decorations, and gifts in preparation—often creating a travel and shopping rush before and during the festival.
Economic and Business Activities
Tihar is also a major event for businesses. During Laxmi Puja, shops, banks, and offices are decorated and worshipped to invite success and prosperity in the coming year. Business owners light lamps and make offerings to the goddess for good fortune.
Modern Trends
Today, Tihar celebrations include musical performances, public light and rangoli displays, and even online greeting exchanges or “e-tika.” Urban areas increasingly use electric lights, while rural celebrations emphasize traditional oil lamps and locally made decorations. Environmental awareness has brought about the use of biodegradable diyas and restraint on firecrackers.
Public Holidays, Travel, and Shopping During Tihar
Tihar 2025 will bring at least 3–5 days of public holidays across Nepal. This means schools, offices, and many businesses close so people can return home for family gatherings and rituals. The days around Laxmi Puja and Bhai Tika are typically nationwide holidays.
Travel and transportation during Tihar can become crowded, especially as many people journey from cities to their hometowns in the hills and valleys. Markets and shops are bustling in the lead-up to the festival, so plan shopping and travel early if possible.
The Cultural Significance of Tihar
Tihar stands out among the world’s festivals for its combination of spirituality, nature worship, and family unity. By honoring animals, celebrating the goddess of wealth, and strengthening the sibling bond, Tihar weaves together gratitude, joy, and harmony. For Nepali society, it is a powerful occasion that unites people across castes, ethnicities, and regions.
Economically, Tihar boosts trade and small business activity via gift-giving and holiday shopping. The worship of Laxmi by families and businesses symbolizes the hope for prosperity, abundance, and a positive future. Socially, it brings neighborhoods and entire communities together in festive fun that involves everyone, from children to the elderly.
Tihar FAQ – Everything You Wanted to Know
Why is Tihar called the festival of lights?
Tihar is called the festival of lights because homes, streets, and temples are illuminated each night with rows of oil lamps (diyos), candles, and electric lights. These decorations are meant to welcome Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, and symbolize the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.
What is the difference between Tihar and Diwali?
While both are celebrated around the same time and share roots in Hindu tradition, Diwali is observed mostly in India. Tihar, unique to Nepal, includes additional rituals such as animal worship (crows, dogs, cows, oxen) and the Bhai Tika, highlighting the brother-sister bond. Both share a common element of lighting lamps, but Tihar’s customs are distinctively Nepali.
What is special about Bhai Tika?
Bhai Tika is the culminating ritual of Tihar. Sisters and brothers gather for an emotional, colorful ceremony where sisters apply a multi-colored tika to their brothers’ foreheads, present garlands, sweets, and prayers, and in return, receive gifts and a promise of lifelong protection from their brothers. It celebrates and strengthens the bond between siblings.
Which days of Tihar are public holidays?
Most schools, government offices, and many businesses in Nepal close for Tihar, especially for Laxmi Puja and Bhai Tika. Some sectors observe the entire festival week as a holiday, while others close for at least three days during the main rituals.
What is Deusi Bhailo?
Deusi Bhailo is a lively tradition where groups roam neighborhoods singing folk songs and blessing homes in exchange for treats or donations. It is a highlight of Tihar nights and a beloved social event, reinforcing community togetherness.
What foods are special during Tihar?
Tihar is a time for special foods like sel roti (crispy, ring-shaped rice bread), laddu (sweet balls), anarsa (sweet rice flour pastry), fruits, and other sweets. Households prepare and share these with guests, friends, and Deusi-Bhailo groups.
Summary
Tihar 2025 in Nepal is set to run from October 19th to 23rd (Kartik 2–6, 2082 BS), blending deep spiritual traditions, nature worship, and a festival of lights that turns each evening into a magical spectacle. For both Nepali and international readers, experiencing Tihar means more than just seeing lamps or eating sweets—it’s about connecting with values of gratitude, harmony, and family that stand at the heart of Nepali culture.
