Tihar (Deepawali)
तिहार (दीपावली)
Also known as: Diwali, Yama Panchak, Bhai Tika
The festival of lights - honouring crows (day 1), dogs (day 2), cows and Laxmi goddess of wealth (day 3), oxen (day 4), and brothers (day 5, Bhai Tika). Also called Yama Panchak (five days of Yama, the god of death).
When
October–November
Gregorian (approximate — lunar dates shift yearly)
Nepali month
Kartik
Bikram Sambat calendar
Duration
5 days
Tourist appeal
High
Hindu · Nationwide
Tihar illuminates Nepal in oil lamps, candles and electric light strings for five consecutive days. On the third night - Laxmi Puja - homes are decorated with marigold garlands and illuminated brightly to invite the goddess of wealth. The final day, Bhai Tika, is a unique Nepali tradition where sisters bless their brothers with seven-coloured tika and wish them long life.
Traditions & rituals
Day 1 (Kaag Tihar): crows fed, worshipped as messengers of Yama
Day 2 (Kukur Tihar): dogs garlanded with flowers and given special food
Day 3 (Gai Tihar + Laxmi Puja): cows worshipped; homes lit with oil lamps
Day 4 (Goru Tihar + Govardhan Puja): oxen worshipped
Day 5 (Bhai Tika): sisters create seven-coloured tika on brothers' foreheads
Deusi and Bhailo: groups of singers go house to house for blessings and money
What people eat during Tihar (Deepawali)
When does Tihar (Deepawali) fall this year?
Tihar (Deepawali) is observed in the Nepali month of Kartik, which corresponds to roughly October–November in the Gregorian calendar. Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar, so the precise day moves each year. Use our converter to map any Bikram Sambat date to the Gregorian calendar.
Nepali date converter (BS ⇄ AD) →Tihar (Deepawali), answered
Common questions about the date, duration and meaning of Tihar (Deepawali).
When is Tihar (Deepawali) celebrated?+
Tihar (Deepawali) falls in October–November — the Nepali month of Kartik in the Bikram Sambat calendar. Because most Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, the exact Gregorian dates shift slightly each year.
How long does Tihar (Deepawali) last?+
Tihar (Deepawali) lasts 5 days.
What is the significance of Tihar (Deepawali)?+
The festival of lights - honouring crows (day 1), dogs (day 2), cows and Laxmi goddess of wealth (day 3), oxen (day 4), and brothers (day 5, Bhai Tika). Also called Yama Panchak (five days of Yama, the god of death).
Who celebrates Tihar (Deepawali) and where?+
Tihar (Deepawali) is primarily a Hindu festival, celebrated across Nepal.
What food is eaten during Tihar (Deepawali)?+
Traditional Tihar (Deepawali) foods include Sel roti, Anarsa (sesame-coated sweet), Kheer, Pulao.
Other festivals of Nepal
Sources & data note
Festival dates follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar and shift each Gregorian year; the approximate Gregorian months reflect the typical recent range. Cultural details on Tihar (Deepawali) are sourced from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.