TANSEN, Oct 27: The Palpali Dhaka fabric has become the choice of both domestic and foreign visitors to Palpa with product diversification in response to the desire of the consumers.

KAILALI, Oct 27: Flowers, one of the most essential items for celebrating the Tihar festival, have run out of stock in the district. Though flowers are cultivated commercially, there is a shortage of flowers.

KATHMANDU, Oct 27: Brothers are receiving tika from their sisters today, the main day of Tihar, the second biggest festival of Nepali Hindus.

KATHMANDU, Oct 25: Flower garlands worth over Rs 135 million are expected to be sold during the ongoing Tihar festival.

KATHMANDU, Oct 26: Goru Puja or ox worship and Govardan Puja are being observed throughout the country today on the fourth day of the five-day-long Tihar festival, the second biggest festival of Nepalis.

DODHARA CHANDANI, Oct 24: Tihar, the second biggest festival of lights celebrated by Hindu people, is in full swing.

Streets full of children singing and dancing, houses covered from top to bottom with colorful lights, the aroma of festival food  from every household, families getting together to exchange greetings and play cards, and fireworks being lit at every corner – this would be a typical description of  the festival of lights commonly known as Tihar or Dipawali. Tihar is a five-day festival celebrated in Nepal where animals like cows, dogs, and crows are celebrated along with the relationship of brothers and sisters. What is interesting is how over time, celebrating with fire-crackers has become an integral part of Tihar, especially as fire-crackers do not have roots in Hindu traditions.

KATHMANDU, Oct 22: Dhanteras, first day of Tihar festival, is being celebrated across the country today. People are buying utensils, gold and silver jewelry and coins to mark the festival.

KATHMANDU, Oct 22: The first day of Yamapanchak or Tihar festival is observed as Crow Tihar, usually feeding crows while recognizing their important role in the life of humans.

KATHMANDU, Oct 22: Nepal Police has requested the general public not to organize the Deusi Bhailo cultural program after 9PM.

KATHMANDU, OCT 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is selling gold and silver coins (Asharfi) from Thursday, targeting Dhanteras and Laxmi Puja of Tihar--the festival of light that is just a few days away.

KATHMANDU, OCT 18: Entrepreneurs have imported electric decorative lights worth around Rs 200 million for Tihar, which is round the corner.

KATHMANDU, Oct 17: Flower farmers in Bhaktapur district are busy picking flowers and sending them to the markets for Tihar.

KATHMANDU, Oct 11: An estimated two million units of marigold garlands will be used in the upcoming Tihar, the festival of light.

A sporadic festival comes one-off in a year With the onset of it marigold, garland, Vibrant colors and Deusi - Bhaillo Continued to boom

KATHMANDU, Nov 7: An excess import of flowers has led to large quantities of domestically produced flowers going to waste  during this Tihar, which made the domestic farmers face heavy financial losses.

CPN (Unified Socialist) chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal said that festivals like Tihar and Nepal Sambat inspire everyone to maintain national unity along with social goodwill and fraternity. In a message of best wishes on the occasion of the Tihar festival and the Nepal Sambat 1142 New Year, the CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman and former Prime Minister said that Tihar has given an incomparable message for mutual respect.

KATHMANDU, Nov 6: According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, 11:02 AM is the most auspicious time for receiving and offering Bhaitika today. Sisters throughout the country offer tika to their brothers wishing them happiness, long life and prosperity on the occasion of Bhaitika.

DAMAULI, Nov 5: Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Krishna Kumar Shrestha has spoken of the need of handing over the unique culture and tradition to the future generation.

KATHMANDU, Nov, 5: The Nepal Sambat New Year 1142 is being celebrated across the country today amidst various programs.

KATHMANDU, Nov 5: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expressed the confidence that the Nepal Sambat 1142 would help support further strengthen national unity by promoting mutual goodwill, tolerance, and brotherhood. In a message today on the occasion of the Nepal Sambat 1142, the President has wished for happiness, peace, and prosperity to all Nepalis at home and abroad.

KATHMANDU, Nov 5: Prime Minister Deuba has expressed his best wishes to all the Nepali people on the occasion of the Nepal Sambat New Year 1142. He said that the day is believed to increase tolerance, brotherhood, and mutual harmony among all Nepali people.

KATHMANDU, Nov 4: Laxmi Puja is being observed across the country today. The third day of Yamapanchak of Tihar festival is being celebrated by worshipping Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, affluence and prosperity, this evening, 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.

KATHMANDU, Nov 3: The festival of lights ‘Tihar’ has officially begun with Kaag and Kukur Tihar already celebrated on Wednesday. As the people are busy buying goods that are needed for the celebrations, the sale of electric decorative lights is also high across the country. It is believed that Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth, visits the homes of those who keep their home well-lit and clean during Tihar. Due to this belief, people illuminate their homes with electric lights and butter lamps to invite the goddess to their homes.

KATHMANDU, Nov 2: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)’s Managing Director Kulman Ghising on Tuesday assured that there will not be load-shedding during Tihar as the country currently has electricity production more than the demand.

KATHMANDU, Nov 2: People have rushed to the Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank to purchase gold and silver coins on the occasion of Dhanteras.

KATHMANDU, Nov 2: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has set up vaccination centers at Gongabu Bus Park, Kalanki, Balkhu, and Koteshwar for travelers leaving the Kathmandu Valley to celebrate the Tihar festival.

KATHMANDU, Nov 1: Nepal Rastra Bank has started selling gold and silver coins (Asharfi) targeting Dhanteras and Laxmi Puja of Tihar--the festival of light that is just a few days away.

KATHMANDU, Nov 1: People throng markets inside the capital as they prepare to celebrate Tihar-- the second major festival of Hindu followers. People can be seen purchasing necessary items for the festival such as hats, colors, and garlands, among others.

BHAKTAPUR, Oct 25: Flower farmers of Bhaktapur district are busy picking flowers and sending them to the markets for Tihar.

KATHMANDU, Oct 24: Potters of Bhaktapur are busy making “Pala”, traditional earthen oil lamps, with the Tihar festival round the corner.

KATHMANDU, Nov 16: A number of people without brothers and sisters on Monday reached the Bal Gopaledhwor Temple at the heart of Rani Pokhari (Queen’s Pond) in the capital to receive tika on the Bhaitika, the fifth and final day of Yampanchak. It is the day when sisters put tika on the forehead of their brothers, wishing for their prosperity and long life.

KATHMANDU, Nov 12: Local farmers of Pokhari Danda at Ramkot of Nagarjun Municipality were seen busy picking Marigold on Thursday.

BHAKTAPUR: The family of Laxmi Nagarkoti is busy making garlands of Gomphrena Globosa commonly known as Makhmali flower as the festival of flowers - Tihar - is less than a week away.

Dashain is over, and Tihar is approaching. But the prospect of celebrating with friends and family has become a dream. It’s time to remember the good old days and feel good about it.

KATHMANDU, Nov 6: The festival of light, Deepawali or Tihar is just a week away. The festival, also known for strengthening ties between brothers and sisters, remains incomplete if we do not talk about lamps and lights.

KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all not to involve in immoral and illegal activities during the time of festival celebration.

Tihar is an important Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal and India. During Deepawali or the festival of lights, people put diyas and pretty lights outside their homes to light up the night.

KATHMANDU, Oct 28: Gai Puja, Goru Puja or ox worship and Govardan Puja are being observed throughout the country today on the fourth day of the five-day-long Tihar festival celebrated mainly by the Hindus across the country.

KATHMANDU, Oct 27: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended best wishes to all Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of Tihar festival.

As the country goes for yet another three-day holiday for Tihar, there are many issues making the rounds in the media. For one, the most gruesome case of genocide that occurred in 2008 is not moving toward resolution. The main suspect, Mohammad Aftab Alam, has been denying the allegation that he masterminded that criminal act. He is even claiming that the bomb explosion that killed people on the eve of first Constituent Assembly elections in April, 2008 did not occur at all. District court has remanded him in custody for one more week and there are genuine fears that the victims and eyewitnesses of the murders might be influenced by the culprits and their relatives.  The case of rape attempt against former Speaker of House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara is not making any headway. Meanwhile, the government has arrested a rapper on charge of spreading offensive message through his songs. People are divided in favor of and against the police action. While a group of people has been arguing that government is trying to divert the public attention from the pressing issues by arresting the singer, others have stood in favor of the police action.  Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has left for the Republic of Azerbaijan, leading the Nepali delegation to the 18th Summit of heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Major festivals across cultures have their roots in rural life. They also share similar rationale for celebration. The reunion of family members, sharing of good time, food, blessings, and worship of gods/goddesses are their universal themes. Unsurprisingly, they are embraced, modified, and commoditized by the urbanites, exurbanites and suburbanites in no time.

Your daily dose of missed important news of the day.

DULEGAUDA, TANAHU, Oct 25: Festival of lights, Tihar or Deepawali is around the corner. It is also the festival of brothers and sisters. Sisters offer Saptarangi (seven-colored) Tika on their brothers’ forehead.

Tihar also known as Deepawali, is one of the most awaited festivals among kids and adults alike. Tihar is a five-day long festival of humility and giveaways where adults get busy in the ritualistic aspects, while younger ones make tireless efforts to shop gifts for friends and family.

The press statement quoting Home Ministry's spokesman Ramakrishna Subedi, stated that action will be taken against those who sing and produce songs and music that affect the society in the name of the festival.

KATHMANDU, Oct 24: The government has announced October 30, the next day of ‘Bhai Tika’ as a public holiday. Bhai Tika is the most important day of Tihar or Deepawali, known as the festival lights.

KATHMANDU, Oct 14: Nepal is gradually becoming self-reliant on flowers, thanks to the rise in domestic production of flowers.

KATHMANDU, Oct 13: Nepali Hindus are observing the Kojagrat Poornima (full moon day) on Sunday to conclude 15-day Dashain festival by worshipping Mahalaxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

KATHMANDU, Sept 12: Early ticket bookings for public-vehicles to various places of the country from Kathmandu targeting Dashain festival will open from September 22.