Laxmi Puja (Tihar) in Nepal

When did the Laxmi Puja (Tihar) in Nepal start?

The first recorded date of Laxmi Puja (Tihar) in Nepal being celebrated on November 8 was in the year 1824.

About Laxmi Puja (Tihar) in Nepal Holiday

Laxmi Puja, or Tihar, is a major Nepalese festival celebrated in Nepal and by the Nepali diaspora around the world. It is celebrated in autumn to honor the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Laxmi. This festival can last for five days and is considered one of the most joyous and important occasions in the Nepalese calendar.

For the first two days of Tihar, worshippers will visit the home of Goddess Laxmi to light diyas and offer her their devotion and prayers. Festivities also include singing and dancing, displaying of colorful lanterns, and preparing traditional meals. On the third day, cows are celebrated and decorated, as a commemoration of the important place they have in Nepalese culture.

The fourth day of Laxmi Puja is also known as Bhai Tika, and its the most important day of the entire festival. On this day, all family members come together to give and receive Bhai Tika, a ritual in which brother and sisters exchange special gifts and tikas while wishing each other good luck and fortune. Traditional music and dancing fills the air, and delicious, mouth-watering delicacies are served.

This is a time when family and friends come together to celebrate the enduring bond of love and unity. Laxmi Puja is a festival of joy, prosperity, and love which unites all Nepalese, wherever they may be in the world.

Laxmi Puja (Tihar) in Nepal

Laxmi Puja, also known as Dipawali or Tihar, is one of the most important national holidays in Nepal and is celebrated with much gusto and enthusiasm. This grand occasion is celebrated during the Hindu lunar month of Kartik (October-November). This significant event is sure to leave a lasting impression on visitors to the country as it is an amassed celebration of culture and ritual that integrates many of Nepal’s customs and behaviors.

History and Origin

Laxmi Puja in Nepal has been celebrated for centuries, dating back to the times of the Malla kingdom. According to some accounts, it may have even been celebrated prior to this. It was during the Malla kingdom that the celebration began to take its current form with the traditional activities of presenting offerings to the gods becoming an integral part of the festivities.

The origin of this holiday lies in the Hindu mythology, where householders perform a ritual to gain divine blessings of wealth and prosperity. On the night of the Laxmi Puja, many homes are lit with oil lamps and candles, as they watch for the goddess Laxmi to appear to shower them with blessings. This tradition representation of the festival takes its origin from the myth in which king Bali promises Laxmi the right to enter into every household and receive offerings.

Along with the main purpose of the festival, which is to appease the goddess of wealth, Laxmi Puja has been associated with a variety of other gestures and activities. It is celebrated to invoke the blessings of numerous Hindu gods, in the hopes of a bountiful harvest and abundant future. It is also a time where the community comes together in joyous reunions with family and friends.

Significance and Meaning

For many Nepalese, Laxmi Puja is a time to give thanks for the blessings of the year, and for those of the future. The festival is filled with activities and traditions that carry a variety of meanings. People celebrate by performing traditional puja rituals in honor of the gods, sharing lavish feasts with family and friends, playing card and dice games, and enjoying firework displays.

The holiday is ultimately a gesture of devotion and reverence to the Hindu gods, made to garner favor and blessings for the coming year. Through celebratory activities such as lighting oil lamps and offering puja to the gods, people are seeking grace and favor from them. Other activities, such as greeting one another with “Tika” and “Malas” (flower garlands) and playing cards and dice games, are carried out in order to bring joy, promote camaraderie, and ward off any evil influences.

Traditions and Celebrations

The festivities of Laxmi Puja are marked by a number of rituals and customs that are celebrated amongst entire communities throughout Nepal. On the eve of the Puja, lots of people prepare and decorate their homes with various kinds of decorations and arrange for oil lamps and candles to light up their premises. On the day of the Puja, traditional objects such as coins, coral, turmeric and other auspicious materials are offered to the gods.

This is followed by the ritual of the Tika and Mala exchange whereby people greet each other with garlands of flower petals. People also greet each other with the blessing of “Shubh deepawali”. Other activities carried out on the day are playing traditional games like cards and dice games, creating colours from turmeric and rice grains, lightening of oil lamps, and the preparation of various raw and cooked sweet treats.

Geographical Spread

The celebration of Laxmi Puja is primarily associated with the Hindu population of Nepal. This holiday is observed by different ethnic and religious groups throughout the country. It is celebrated mainly by the inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley and other parts of central Nepal. The areas around Pokhara and Dharan are also known for their grand festivities. Regions such as Chitwan and Holiya, located in the Terai region, witness the mobilisation of Hindus during this occasion. Celebrations here are said to be the most extravagant as the religious fervour is said to be at its highest in these regions.

In these areas, rituals such as performing ‘Vishnu Puja’, going on pilgrimage and offering do Huella during Satya Narayan Puja are popular. Furthermore, celebrations like ‘Yomari Purnima’ (the full moon day of ‘Karte’ month) are significant, where marits (dumpling shaped like a lotus) are consumed, and art and culture are appreciated. It should be noted that in some parts of Nepal, the festival is known as Dewali or Diwali and is celebrated as the victory of Rama over Ravana.

Modern Day Observations

As with any traditional practice, modern Laxmi Puja observations have adapted to the times and evolved over the years. As Nepal embraced modernity, grandiose decorations made with electricity have come to replace the humble oil lamps of years past. Additionally, the wonders of technology have been integrated into various aspects of the holiday, such as the ability to purchase puja items from the comfort of one’s own home, enabling more people to partake in the festivities without having to venture into town on the day of the Puja.

Furthermore, some modern adaptations of the ritual have included playing music while performing the puja, and holding puja ceremonies in tents rather than the traditional homes. These changes have resulted in a fascinating amalgamation of the old and the new.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• The celebration of Laxmi Puja is believed to last for five consecutive days and nights.
• During the first day of the celebration, it is a custom to worship the crows, as they are believed to carry messages from gods and ancestors.
• During the second day of Laxmi Puja, cows are given special attention as they are believed to be the incarnation of Laxmi.
• On the third day, Laxmi puja is performed in most households with incense, lamps, flowers, fruits, and other offerings.
• On the fourth day, Newari and Tharus celebrate ‘Gai Tihar’ or ‘Gai Puja’, wherein cows are worshipped and offered gifts.
• The fifth day is celebrated as Bhai Tika wherein brothers and sisters exchange tikas, garlands, and gifts and exchange wishes for longevity and prosperity.
• Food is also an integral part of the festivity, with families and friends gathering in the afternoons to feast on traditional delicacies.
• Some popular dishes during this time are Selroti (fried bread), Momos (steamed dumplings), and several varieties of sweets.
• The celebration of Laxmi Puja also involves lightening smokeless, pollution-free crackers, as these are said to ward off any bad omens.

Holiday Wishes

1. Wishing you a blessed Laxmi Puja, filled with immense delight and joy.
2. May Laxmi grant you abundance and bring unbounded joy to you and your family.
3. May this Dipawali bring prosperity and joy to you and your home.
4. Have a happy and blessed Laxmi Puja!
5. Wishing you a safe and prosperous festive season.

Holiday Messages

1. A warm, festive wish for you and your family. May Laxmi bless you this festive season.
2. May this occasion bring joy and delight to all of you and shower you with bountiful blessings.
3. May Laxmi shower you and your family with contentment and abundance this festive season.
4. May the goddess bring divine light into your life this Dipawali.
5. On this auspicious occasion may your home be filled with laughter, peace, and joy.

Holiday Quotes

1. “Today is a day of laughter, of contentment, and of peace. May your joy be unparalleled and your blessings be bountiful”.
2. “May Laxmi bless your homes with harmony and contentment”.
3. “May the festival of lights bring happiness and prosperity to all of you”.
4. “A day to purify our thoughts and celebrate the spirit of freedom. Let’s celebrate Laxmi Puja”.
5. “Let us rejoice in the beauty of Dipawali, and have a blessed, joyous celebration”.

Other Popular Holiday Info

Laxmi Puja is a festive season that is widely celebrated throughout the country with a plethora of social and cultural activities. During this time, many temples and shrines are lit up with the flame of oil lamps, signifying the presence of the divine powers. People are seen singing and dancing in celebration of the festivities, and traditional music and dramas are performed in many places.

During the period of Dipawali, people come together to share their warmth and love, and exchange gifts with family and friends. The exchange of Tika, Mala, and sweets signify the joy of the festival, which encourage everyone to forget all their worries and embrace the joy of the season.

The atmosphere of the festival is one of love and fellowship, and this often spills over into other aspects of society. Gambling, usually prohibited, is legalized just for this occasion, as people are encouraged to celebrate the joy of the season. This is in the spirit of keeping the festivities going, and it reminds us of the importance of preserving our traditional activities.

In conclusion, the celebration of Laxmi Puja (Tihar) in Nepal is a vibrant display of Nepal’s traditional customs and culture, and signifies the significance of faith in the country. Through this rich offering of unique activities and rituals, we can share the blessings of abundance and prosperity in this small but beautiful nation.