KATHMANDU, Nov 11: The Bhai Tika festival, the final day of Yamapanchak and Tihar, is being celebrated today, with brothers receiving tika from their sisters as part of the traditional festival.
Observed every year on the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartik, Bhai Tika is the main festival of Tihar, Nepal's second-largest festival. On this day, sisters traditionally apply seven-colored or five-colored tika to their brothers and wish them longevity, good health and prosperity. The festival is also known as Yamadwitiya.
After sisters apply tika to their brothers, brothers also apply tika to their sisters. There is a religious belief that worshipping one's sisters brings lasting marital bliss and prosperity.
10:51AM auspicious hour for Bhai Tika tomorrow
Although Bhai Tika can be performed throughout the day, 11:07 am has been designated as the most auspicious time for those seeking an auspicious moment, said Associate Professor Dr Purushottam Bhattarai, chairperson of the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Development Committee. According to him, there is no restriction on applying tika at any time during the day. However, the committee has said that those involved in state affairs should observe the tika ceremony at the auspicious time.
This year, sisters giving tika are advised to face east while brothers receiving tika should face west, according to the committee. This arrangement places the Moon, which will be in Scorpio, on the right side. The Moon will enter Scorpio this morning. Before that, it will remain in Libra.
Even while the Moon is in Libra, tika can be applied following the same directional arrangement, said religious scholar Prof Dr Ramchandra Gautam. According to him, religious scriptures prescribe keeping the Moon in front or on the right side during auspicious rituals.
On Bhai Tika, sisters worship the oil lamp, kalash and Ganesh idol installed during Laxmi Puja. They then worship the eight immortals—Markandeya, Ashwatthama, Bali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya and Parashurama—along with Chitragupta, Yamaraj, Yamuna, Dharmaraj and other deities and sacred plants represented on the main ritual plate.
Sisters traditionally protect their brothers by pouring a stream of oil around them before applying five-colored or seven-colored tika. They also adorn their brothers with garlands of makhamali, marigold and chrysanthemum flowers.
Although the practice of applying seven-colored tika is widespread during Tihar, religious scholar Gautam said scriptures prescribe five colors—red, white, yellow, green and blue.
After applying tika, sisters offer their brothers walnuts, chestnuts, spices, sel roti and other delicacies. Brothers, in turn, traditionally honor their sisters by offering clothes and cash according to their means as symbols of good fortune.
