Tihar 2012

Hey everybody,
(Talking about festival that Hindu people celebrate, it has its own importance in our lives.)
First of all, Happy Deepawali / Tihar to everyone and hoping that everyone had a safe night playing with all firecrackers. I always loved celebrating Tihar. Nepalese people celebrate it in 5 days. Let's not got to details of what we do in all these days. My sister heard from her colleague at work that there will be fireworks in Neasden Temple (Swaminarayan Temple). We decided to go there and give it a try how it goes on. I never knew that there would be event like that.

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I finished all my worshipping of goddess Laxmi (goddess of fortune) at home. Then we headed towards our destination. Oh my god, the temple had rented the big multistory car park of nearby IKEA store. There were people everywhere. Luckily I guess whether was favourable to all of us. I thought we were late for it but thank god we still had some time to go inside the temple and come back one by one. On our way we saw many girls and guys of young age too. Suddenly my sister said,''Temple is the best place to look for girls ( for guys)''. Hahaha. No offence to anyone but I don't about other girls but I don't really look for potential partner in temples. :P  I think it is human nature that opposite attracts.

Funny thing is that most of the guys had eyes on all the girls. Though I'm a girl, I don't know how I ended up telling my sister these things:

• Yes temple is the place where they can see the type of girl they are looking for whom they can introduce to their mother. (Not referring that girls who don't go to temple are bad.)
• They can actually see them in the most beautiful way, all covered up and well-behaved. (normally girls wear saree or kurta sarwal or some decent clothes.)
• Almost all type of girls go to temple. ( I hardly know any Nepalese girls who doesn't go to temple, unless their religion is different.)

Point here is not to penalise guys for staring at girls in temple, it's just a humorous co-incidence that I decided to wear a decent Kurta-sarwal when I went there. :P But there were so many other eye-catching beautiful girls in traditional dresses. If a girl like me can notice it how would those guys get their eyesight away from them. haha .Hey guys just because a girl goes to temple doesn't mean that they are so good that you ignore the ones who doesn't. All the best to all the guys out there who goes to temple to find someone they like.

The best part of the night was crossing the big road North Circular. Wondering why? Thing is I always drive past that road but this was the first time I actually crossed it by foot. The whole road was blocked for few minutes just to let people (and me) to cross the road. Good feeling to walk on such a busy road freely and that majestic feeling of being special. it was well organised event and volunteers were great. Young boys handling shoe department were so busy, the ones showing the way to temple, standing outside, inside the temple did very good job. 

Here is the glimpse of fireworks that made my Tihar of 2012 so special. I just love fireworks, it lightens up my heart, soul and mind. 

WISHING ALL MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND PEOPLE OUT THERE A HAPPY DEEPAWALI (though I'm a bit late) AND ALL MY LOVELY BROTHERS HAPPY BHAI-TIKA (or Dai tika ;) :P).

Live well & love life!!!

limshaku

Delightful and Bright festival of Tihar!

This time of year is the Festival of Tihar. It's also called Deepawali or Dewali or Teuhaar by Indians. Mostly Hindus celebrate Tihar but in Nepal it's like a National Festival. I would prefer calling it 'Tihar' and one of the Nepal's biggest festival after Dashain.

What do we do?
You must have heard it already but still I like to share what I know of Tihar. Correct me if I do any mistakes.

Precisely speaking, I only know what my mother taught us about Tihar. Also what I heard throughout my life in Nepal about Tihar.

We (Nepali) celebrate it in 5 days. Each day has it's own speciality and each day is celebrated with significance.

Day 1
Crow is worshipped on day 1 as it is believed that once CROWS were human's messenger. They are free bird. This day crows are well fed and worshipped.

Day 2
This day is for dogs. Strange but true. Hinduism respects animals. It is believed that dogs are the protectors and securities of our home and they are very loyal. My mom also says dogs help us to cross a big river after we're dead (life after death thing). Dogs are fed and worshipped. Even the abondoned dogs of streets are treated well this day.

Day 3
2 things are carried out this day. In the morning 'Cow' is fed and worshipped. It is believed that cow is the mother and she provides us many things. My mom told me that the piece of thread that we put in our wrist on the day of 'Janai Purnima' is then taken out and tied on the tail of a cow. I remember I tied it on calf's tail. 
In the evening, Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth) pooja is carried out. Every house is bright with candles, lights and fireworks are also used. It is believed that Laxmi will enter that house which seems the brightest with lights. Bribing the Goddess hehe. I remember back home I loved it so much. A group of females go to houses, they sing, they dance and entertain. They're called 'Bhaileni' and they play 'Bhailo'. It's a nice custom as long as it's not abused. In return the homeowner gives them food, rice and money; the bhailo group then gives them blessings. I used to go to 'Bhaili' when I was small but later I stopped.  In London, Hindus here put fireworks all night.

Day 4
This day is for worshipping 'Bull'. Why? I don't know the exact reason but again my mom says bulls help us to plough the fields and make it possible to grow crops. Since Nepal is still an agricultural country bulls are still used to plough fields.
In the evening, group of males gather and do the same thing as females did a day earlier. They go to houses sing, dance and entertain and makes the environment fun. The group is called 'Deusi'. They also give blessings after they receive their award. My brother always used to end up at our home about 1 am with his band. And we had to listen to them in half asleep mood. We even had to make tea and give to them in the middle of the night ufff.

Day 5
Yay I love this day. Just Kidding. This day is called 'Bhai Tika'. The day is for brother- sister to show and express their love, respect and intimacy.  
It is believed that sisters put give things to protect their brothers. First they circle their brothers with oil and water, put 7 (red, green, blue, yellow, etc) colourful tika on forhead, put garland of  Makhmali flower (Globe Amaranth). Makhmali flower is also called Supari full or Ajambari full as it never really dies. The sisters then smash the Walnut pretending it is the Yumraaj's head. So, until the Makhmali flower (Ajambari) dries out and the colourful tika fades away, sisters protect brothers. (mind you 'Ajambari' means 'Never dying').

Sisters feed them well and brothers treat them well (referring to money or any gift in bhai tika hehe)! May Yamaraaj (the guy who takes away people to death)  won't succeed in taking away our brothers.

Hence the festival of Tihar finishes. I love each and everything connected to Tihar. 

Happy Tihar to all of you. I am very busy preparing for special day, the 5th Day when my brothers come to visit me. Hope you also have loads of fun.
Cheerio :)