KATHMANDU, Oct 31: On the third day of Tihar, Nepal's second biggest festival, people across the country are honoring dogs for their loyalty and protection by worshiping them and offering delicious treats.
Laxmi Puja, a day dedicated to the worship of the Hindu goddess Laxmi, is being observed across the country today. Traditionally the day falls on the third day of the Tihar festival this year.
According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, although Kukur Tihar traditionally falls on the second day of Yam Panchak or the festival of lights (Tihar), this year it is being observed on the third day due to a shift in the lunar calendar.
Dr Devmani Bhattarai, a member of the committee and head of the Department of Religious Studies at Valmiki Vidyapeeth, stated that Naraka Chaturdashi and Kukur Tihar should be celebrated on the day Chaturdashi coincides with sunrise.
Kukur Tihar, the festival of dogs, being celebrated (with photo...
It is a religious belief that a dog born in the lineage of Vaivasvata Manu accompanied Dharmaraja Yudhishthira on his journey to heaven. Dogs are considered obedient and reliable animals for household protection. Additionally, there is a growing belief that keeping a dog at home can help prevent heart disease and diabetes.
The five-day Tihar, also known as the Yamapanchak, commenced on Wednesday. Laxmi Puja is being observed this evening by worshipping Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, affluence, and prosperity, with devotion.
On this day, people clean their houses and surroundings, illuminate their homes, and light butter lamps to ‘invite’ the goddess to their homes, in the belief that the goddess Laxmi detests the house which is unclean and untidy.
The night of Laxmi Puja is also known as Sukha Ratri, meaning the night of happiness as it is believed that Goddess Laxmi comes to reside in the house on this special night. To ‘welcome’ the goddess in the house, devotees make the footprint signs from their courtyard up to the main altar.
On the evening of Laxmi Puja, troupes of teenage girls from the neighbourhood sing ‘bhailo’ songs amidst dancing and merriment. The bhailo troupes visit house to house in the neighbourhood performing the bhailo cultural songs and dances.
In return, the house-owners, especially mothers, give them various presents like paddy, rice grain, flower garlands, money, and ‘sel roti’, a special delicacy cooked in ghee.
It is believed the house owner is bestowed with blessings from the goddess by presenting the donation to these bhailo troupes.
Night illumination is carried out at homes by lighting electric lights and butter lamps. Some people also worship the cow in the morning on Laxmi Puja in accordance with their family tradition.
_20211104080942.jpg)
