Bhai Tika

The best time for this year's Bhai Tika for Nepal is at 11:07 am.Brothers receiving the Tika should face west, while sisters applying the Tika should face east.Bhai Tika is a specific festival that exclusively acknowledges and showcases the love between brother and sister.A brother, far from the city of sister, comes to sister's place today and they rejoice in sisterhood and brotherhood.

Today, it is customary for sisters to worship their brothers, including saptarangi tikas, ever fresh-looking Makhamali garlands, selrotis, anarsa, chocolate, cashews, raisins, coconut, sweets, spices, and other foods. Brother gifts back to sister, this is a divine festival. Bhai means brother and Tika join together to make Bhai Tika.

It is believed that even the Yamaraj, the god of death once returned without occurring death to a man. This happened because the perspective's sister prayed to Yama for the long life of her brother.

Yamaraj also comes to the earth and meets his sister today, as mentioned in quotes and scriptures.

There is a huge importance of Saptarangi Tika or the tika made of seven colors, especially today. People are seen with a rainbow-colored Tika in their forehead, this signifies that they have sisters and brothers and they value that relationship.

For people of Nepali origin living in different countries around the world, as well as followers of Sanatan Dharma, the most auspicious times for performing Bhai Tika this year during the Tihar festival have been determined as follows:

Auspicious Bhai Tika Timings Around the World

(All times are according to local time.)

Brothers and sisters who have not met for a long time are meeting today. Love and harmony are being exchanged. Even in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Thailand, the festival is celebrated in its own way. Today is a very important and enjoyable day of brotherhood and love.

Things are different, due to the health crisis there is a transmission risk. May every brother and sisters be safe and may the love prevail.

Falgunanda Jayanti

It takes a long time for the arrival of great Gurus into this earth, it is believed that only one Guru is born at a time. Such great personalities, based on their knowledge, experience, and skills, have been guiding society towards the positive path and showing the way to salvation for ages and today we are going to reveal the facts and histories of the birth anniversary of such a man.Guru Falgunand, who was born in Ilam, Eastern Nepal in 1942, is believed to have had wonderful and miraculous qualities.

Role of Guru Falgunanda

Guru Falgunand has played an invaluable role in bringing the highly decent and nature-loving Kirant community living in the hilly districts into the mainstream of development, deepening them socially, economically, and culturally, and influencing education. Similarly, Guru Falgunand has a huge contribution to bringing the Kirant community out of the orthodox tradition. This is the reason why even today, after hundreds of years, the work and fame of Guru Falgunand is being praised in the Kirant community.

Guru Falgunand's full statue

Guru Falgunand's full statue is established in Timae, 1, Shantinagar, Jhapa. Today, various events and gatherings are held there. Similarly, the Government of Nepal has started construction and development of the road connecting China through Damak, Jhapa, Ilam, Taplejugan, and Panchthar as Falgunand Highway. Similarly, the Falgunand Cup football tournament is also being organized in Eastern Nepal.

Kija Pooja

However, these meetings and gatherings are condemned for this year, but the respect towards Guru Falgunanda and acknowledgment of his contributions have no limits.Football tournament is organized every year in Phidim of Pachthar district however, this year could be a bit different. The Government of Nepal has also issued postage stamps in 1993 with a picture of Guru Falgunand, a follower of love and non-violence.

The Guru of the Kirants, Falgunanda Lingden, is a well-known Guru, Satyavakta, and Sadhu of Nepal. The divine wisdom and the ultimate truths he gave still show the true path in different periods of human life. In memory of this social engineer and master of social and spiritual thought, Falgunanda Jayanti is celebrated all over Nepal today with various programs and cultural exhibitions.

The Kirant community not only in Nepal but all over the world celebrates Falgunanda Jayanti on this day, especially in Nepal, Bhutan, India, and other places where his name is taken with great pride.

The Limbu Conference was organized for the first time in Nepal in 2070 BS by embracing his divine word and knowledge delivered by Guru Falgunanda. The conference, held under the theme "Dignity, Self-Dignity, Prestige and Identity of Indigenous Peoples Limbuwan National Awakening, Kiachu Yuppa Tangberen Hekam" The aim was to build a common understanding on various issues.

"Swanti" is the term used to denote five Yamapanchak days in Nepal Bhasa or Newa language. Highlighting the lead of females in household and showcasing the love for the entire ecosystem, these days advocate for the wellbeing of crow, dog, Laxmi, cow, and brothers/ sisters.

The Newa community, rich in various traditions, festivals, civilizations, and cultures, has been celebrating Kaag Tihar and Kukur Tihar, they have been celebrating Lakshmi Puja, Mha Puja, and Kija Puja. It is also called Swanti Nakha because it has been celebrated continuously for three days. In the Newa language, Swanhu means three days, and Nakh means the festival of the moon.

In the agrarian Newa community, the three-day festival is seen as a celebration of bringing in paddy from the fields and completing the year-round reckoning, as well as worshiping one's body and receiving the nutrients needed to move forward while struggling for the new year.

On this day, mandapa is prepared and decorated like on the day of Mha Puja. All kinds of fruits are also kept in the mandapa. In the community, instead of Pancharangi Tika, there is Akshata, a mix of Abir, yogurt, beaten rice (Chiura), and water which is called 'Jaki Singh' in Newari culture. In the Newar community, it is customary to offer Sagun from today, just like on the day of Mha Puja.

Offering Panchatatva, one worships, and wishes for the longevity of one's brother. The festival is famous in the Newa community for the intimacy between the deities and acknowledging the love of sisters within every human being.

May love increase, transition decrease and smile remain.

Good luck everyone!