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The Tihar Festival In Nepal

Feb 9, 2026 Nepal Lion

Tihar, primarily famous as the “Festival of Lights”, is the second biggest festival celebrated in Nepal. Every year, on the night of the Laxmi Puja, countless Diya lamps and candles are lit, and gifts are given. Additionally, homes are decorated, firecrackers are set, and sweets are shared.

Happiness spread everywhere. If there is a time to experience Nepal’s sweetness, it’s during Tihar. Whether you have heard of it or not, look at the festival, when it is celebrated, and the best places to get involved. Plus, there are some tips to help you have a joyful and safe Tihar festival. Take the chance to explore Nepal during Tihar. The Nepal tour during Tihar is fabulous.

What Is Tihar?

Tihar is known as the Festival of Lights and Blessing; this religious holiday is expressed by the lighting of hundreds of candles light or diyas (homemade oil lamps). Indeed, the term ‘Tihar’ is a contraction of ‘Kaag Tihar, Kukur Tihar, Laxmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Tika’, which means “row of festivals with blessings of animal Kingdom”.

Tihar is a national Hindu festival in Nepal celebrated by other religious communities, including the Jains and Sikhs. Thus, spiritual and regional variations exist in how it is celebrated.

In the Hindu community, Tihar is said to be marked as “Once upon a time Yama came to the village a person who is nearly dead to pick him up to Heaven/Hell, after knowing clever man create a room and closed him inside a room for few years. After a few years, King of Heaven Indra was sucking due to no one dead on earth. Then, he knows all about Yama’s matter. He implies ideas to get Yama from a room the clever man locked.

While Yama was out of the room, he moved to pick up a clever man. On that time clever man is supposed and ready to go with Yama. With one promise, he would like to get blessings from her sister. After all, Yama was ready for his promise. Next, her sister covered him with a line of oil and blessed him. After drying this oil, you would be dead; her sister put a tika on his forehead and wore a garland of Makhamali on his neck and blessed while your flowers distracted you will be dead.

Both wishes were real, and Yama left him for the next life.” After that, the Nepalese believed that the Gomphrena globosa flower symbolized a long life for the brother. So, Tihar is popular as putting tika and blessings of sister.

Tihar is also linked to the celebration of Mata Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This part of the celebrations is so important that many businesses are founded at this time of year, as it’s believed the goddess will help people make a fortune.

These are not all about Tihar. Indeed, it also marks the start of a new year for Hindus. It is as famous as Diwali in India, too.
As a festival celebrated by everyone regardless of religion, Tihar, generally, signifies the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.

When Is Tihar Celebrated In Nepal?

Tihar is celebrated in Nepal during October or November, depending on the lunar calendar. It is a five-day Hindu festival, also known as Deepawali or the Festival of Lights, and comes shortly after Dashain. Each day is dedicated to honoring different beings such as crows, dogs, cows, and brothers, with homes decorated using oil lamps, candles, and colorful rangoli. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the exact dates of Tihar change every year, but it always falls in the autumn season.

Where To Celebrate Tihar In Nepal?

Tihar is an important festival observed across Nepal, and various activities are held during it. But if you want to join the celebration of it during a trip to Nepal, there are some perfect places for doing so, each with its glamour during Tihar.

Kathmandu – Visit Illuminated Streets and Markets

Kathmandu, Nepal’s “Temple City”, is one of the best places to celebrate Tihar. Thousands of foreign tourists visit Kathmandu and enjoy Tihar every year. What’s especially appealing about coming here is that the oil lamps decorate the homes, palaces, and local markets, presenting spectacular displays throughout the city. Each year, there’s a competition for the best decorated and most brilliantly lit-up market. The best place is the Bishal Bazar (Jewelry Market), hailed as the “Las Vegas Strip” during Tihar.

Pokhara – Watch the Display of Fireworks and Lamps along the Fewa Lake

Considered by many to be one of the most spiritual places on earth, Pokhara is primarily spiritual and magical and reflects the city of the Himalayas during the Tihar Festival. The steps along the Fewa Lakes are lit with lamps in honour of the Bindabashini Temple and its presiding goddess. The light of the countless candles and lamps floating on the lake is quite a feast for the eyes, along with millions of fireworks blooming in the sky. To better enjoy the fabulous view of fireworks, stay at one of the lakeside hotels in Pokhara. Ensure you take advantage of the unique view of Annapurna during the fireworks.