Tihar is marked by five days of lighting oil lamps, as well as the celebration of creatures associated with the god of death, including humans.
The festival’s first day is dedicated to crows, with offerings of grains, seeds and sweets scattered on rooftops and streets.
On the third day, Nepali Hindus honor cows, also with treats, vermillion, and flower garlands. The fourth day is dedicated to oxen.
The fifth and last day celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, who give each other gifts and express love, respect and devotion, in remembrance of the story of the goddess Yamuna.
When her brother died, Yamuna pleaded with the god of death not to take him away until the vermillion on his forehead had faded and the flower garlands had wilted, performing an elaborate ritual to extend her last moments with her sibling.
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