Tihar

What Tihar is

Tihar, also called Yamapanchak and Deepawali, is the festival of lights and the second great festival of the Nepali year. Over five days the crow, the dog, the cow and the ox are honoured, Goddess Laxmi is welcomed into homes lit with lamps, and on the last day sisters give tika to their brothers.

How families keep it

Homes are cleaned and decorated with marigold and lights, rangoli is drawn at the door, and children go from house to house singing Deusi and Bhailo. Homes and businesses invite Pandit Ji for the Laxmi Puja.

The days of Tihar

• Kag Tihar

  Saturday, November 7, 2026 · Kartik 21, 2083

  The first day of Tihar, when the crow, Yama's messenger, is fed.

• Laxmi Puja

  Sunday, November 8, 2026 · Kartik 22, 2083

  The third day of Tihar: homes are lit with lamps and Goddess Laxmi is welcomed.

• Kukur Tihar

  Sunday, November 8, 2026 · Kartik 22, 2083

  The second day of Tihar, when dogs are honoured with garlands, tika and food.

• Govardhan Puja

  Tuesday, November 10, 2026 · Kartik 24, 2083

  The fourth day of Tihar: Govardhan Puja, the worship of the ox, and Mha Puja.

• Bhai Tika

  Wednesday, November 11, 2026 · Kartik 25, 2083

  The last day of Tihar, when sisters put the seven-coloured tika on their brothers.

Tihar in the coming years

• 2026Saturday, November 7, 2026 to Wednesday, November 11, 2026Kartik 21, 2083 to Kartik 25, 2083
• 2027Wednesday, October 27, 2027 to Sunday, October 31, 2027Kartik 10, 2084 to Kartik 14, 2084
• 2029Sunday, November 4, 2029 to Wednesday, November 7, 2029Kartik 18, 2086 to Kartik 21, 2086
• 2030Thursday, October 24, 2030 to Monday, October 28, 2030Kartik 7, 2087 to Kartik 11, 2087
• 2031Wednesday, November 12, 2031 to Sunday, November 16, 2031Kartik 26, 2088 to Kartik 30, 2088

Each date is the day Nepal keeps the festival. Nepal publishes its patro one year at a time, so a date further ahead can move by a day when that year's patro comes out. For a ceremony, Pandit Ji confirms the day and the muhurta.