Tihar 2026
Tihar is the five-day festival of lights: crows, dogs and cows honoured, Laxmi welcomed with lamps, deusi and bhailo songs, and Bhai Tika.
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Main day . Source: Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti 2083 calendar (Himal Press)
Tihar gatherings across the USA
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What Tihar is
Tihar is the festival of lights, also called Deepawali or Yamapanchak, the five days connected with Yama, the god of death. It comes a few weeks after Dashain. Houses are cleaned, lit with oil lamps called diyo, and decorated with marigold garlands and coloured patterns at the door.
Each of the five days honours someone different: animals that live close to people, the goddess of wealth, and finally brothers and sisters.
Common questions
- Tihar kahile ho? When is Tihar 2026?
- Tihar 2026 runs from Saturday, November 7, 2026 to Wednesday, November 11, 2026, with the main day on Sunday, November 8, 2026 (source: Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti 2083 calendar (Himal Press)).
- Bhai Tika kahile ho?
- Bhai Tika is the fifth and last day of Tihar. How many days it falls after Laxmi Puja depends on the lunar calendar, so the exact date is confirmed each year from the Nepal government calendar.
- What do the five days of Tihar mean?
- Day one honours crows, day two dogs, day three cows and the goddess Laxmi, day four oxen and, for many Newar families, Mha Puja, and day five is Bhai Tika between sisters and brothers.
- What is the difference between deusi and bhailo?
- Both are house-to-house songs during Tihar. Bhailo is traditionally sung by girls and women, deusi by boys and men; the household gives food or money and is blessed in return.
More in the Tihar explainer.