KATHMANDU, Oct 26: President Bidya Devi Bhandari offered tika to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the first lady Radhika Shakya at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office, as per Vedic rituals.

President Bhandari offered 'tika' and 'jamara' to Prime Minister Oli and the first lady Shakya on the occasion Bijaya Dashami, the 10th and last day of the Bada Dashain festival, on Monday afternoon, according to Surya Thapa, the prime minister’s press advisor.

The head of the state has decided not to offer tika to the public this year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Tika' is the mixture, in the paste form, of curd, rice grains and red vermillion powder and 'jamara' are the newly-sprouted shoots of maize or barley. The elder members of the family put tika on the forehead of and give jamara to the juniors on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami as the blessings. The jamara and tika are considered auspicious and the blessings of the goddess Nawa Durga.

 
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