Bhai Tika, 5th Day of Yama Panchak

The fifth and the last day of Tihar or Yama Panchak is Bhai Tika. This day holds an important significance for brothers and sisters. Sisters fast all day for the long life and prosperity of their brothers. At the end of the ritual, brothers are fed with sweets, delicious food and a lot of love from ther sister.

Sisters worship their brothers by making a round circle of mustard oil, in a belief that they should not leave and stay with their sisters and spend quality time. Followed by putting five different colored tika on brother’s for head. This tika is called Pancha Rangi Tika, that has yellow, green, red, blue and white colore. Sisters offer dry fruits, specially walnuts and hazelnuts to their brother and in return brothers give theri sisters gifts or money.

For those who do not have brothers or sisters, visit Rani Pokhari, which is opened to the public and put on a tika.

When is Bhai Tika celebrated?

Bhai tika is the fifth and the final day of the five days celebration of Tihar. Bhai tika usually is celebrated at a specific time provided by the priests of Nepal. Tihar is a five days celebration of honoring and worshipping five specific things. It usually falls in late October or early November. According to the Gregorian calendar this festival falls in the month of Kartik.

Why is Bhai Tika celebrated?

The fifth day of Yama Panchak or Tihar is Bhai tika. This day is the celebration of brothers and sisters relationship. Sisters worship their brothers by making a round circle of mustard oil, in a belief that they should not leave and stay with their sisters and spend quality time. Followed by putting five different colored tika on brother’s for head. This tika is called Pancha Rangi Tika, that has yellow, green, red, blue and white colore. Sisters offer dry fruits, specially walnuts and hazelnuts to their brother and in return brothers give theri sisters gifts or money.

How is Bhai Tika celebrated?

The Story Behind Tihar

Tihar is celebrated in Nepal after a couple of weeks of Dashain. It is also famous and celebrated throughout Nepal with excitement and enthusiasm. It is a five days celebration and each day has its special significance. A famous story about a brother, Yama and sister, Yamuna is one of the reasons behind the celebration. This celebration is the fifth day of Tihar, because Yamuna wanted to spend time with her brother.

She sent a crow, a dog and then a cow to invite him to visit her. Then she again went herself, to invite him over. Yamuna made a circle with mustard oil, Cynodon Dactylon plant and mentioned that until the oil and the plant dried up, Yama was not to leave his sister. Then, she worshipped her brother with flowers, 5 different colored tika, garland made with marigold and also fasted all day for his long life.

What are the five days of Tihar?

Kaag Tihar (Worshipping of Crow)
Kukur Tihar (Worshpping of a dog)
Gai Tihar (Worshipping of a Cow), Laxmi Tihar or Deepwali (Worshipping of Goddess Laxmi)
Govardhan Puja (Worshipping of miniature hill using cow dung and mud), Mah Puja (purify and empower the soul as part of New Year celebrations)
Bhai Tika (Worshipping of a brother)

If you want to learn more about other festivities here are some popular ones:

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