Tihar

            Tihar is second biggest festival celebrated in Nepal. This festival is also known as Dipawali and Yamapanchak, and is celebrated for five days being last three days more special.
           Tihar is celebrated in the month of Kartik (October) after about a fortnight from Dashain. It begins on the day of Kartik Krishna Trayodashi and ends on the day of Kartik Shukla Dwitiya according to the Lunar Calendar.
           Tihar, the Festival of Lights, simply attracts everyone. The houses and the streets are all decorated with different types of lights candles, oil lamps, small electric lights, and many more. Garlands can be seen on the windows and doors giving them an attractive look. Children can be seen playing with fire-crackers, which make celebration even more enjoyable.Though Tihar is celebrated for five days, the five days signifies five different beliefs, and five different festivals in it. Each day has its own importance. Tihar is a festival where the animals get their due respect from humans. The animals are prayed for their blessings, and thanked for their usefulness to the human race. Tihar is an event of self respect and respect for the family.
         Another interesting part of the Tihar is playing Bhaili and Deusi in the evening of last three days, when the groups of youngsters sing and dance visiting home to home filling the air with joy and happiness.
Deities of the Festival
Yamaraj: He is referred, according to Hindu mythology, to be the God of Death and the king of Yamalok, the gateway between heaven and hell, or the Pearly Gates. It is him who decides - who will live and who will die, and after death, he decides, based on one’s good did and sin - who should go to heaven and who should go to hell. It is his followers/messengers who take our soul to the Yamalok. It is believed that Yamaraj visits his sister Yamuna on these five days, so anyone dying these days, go directly to heaven.