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President Ram Chandra Paudel received the Tihar 'tika' from his sisters Sharada Pandit and Chanda Ojha at the auspicious hour of 11: 39 am at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Shital Niwas, on the occasion of Bhaitika festival today.

On the occasion, the President's sisters put the ceremonial 'tika' on the forehead of the President and presented to him gifts. 

​​Similarly, the President put 'tika' on the forehead of his sisters and offered them with money, as per the time-honoured tradition.

The ceremonial 'tika' comprises of blob of seven colours marked on a vertical thick line of white paste of rice flour on the forehead.

The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee had fixed 11: 39 am today as the most auspicious time for the Bhaitika rituals.

However, the Committee has stated that the rituals can be conducted throughout the day today.

There is a custom of the sisters putting 'tika' on the foreheads of their brothers and vice-versa on Bhai Tika, the last and main day of the five-day-long Yamapanchak or the Tihar festival, the second biggest festival of Nepal.

The most important day of Tihar, the festival of lights, is being marked today with sisters offering 'tika' to their brothers.

Sisters throughout the country offer 'tika' to their brothers wishing them happiness, long life and prosperity on the occasion of Bhai Tika. In return, the brothers pledged to protect their sisters from all kinds of adversities.

The auspicious hour for offering the 'tika' is 11:39 am this year.

It, however, can be held until sunset. On this day, brothers are seated at a specially anointed place around which a trail of mustard oil is drawn.

The sisters then offer the brothers 'tika' and garlands of 'Dubo' and 'Makhamali'. After placing colorful 'tika' on the foreheads of their brothers, sisters offer them a treat consisting of varieties of sweets, walnut, spices and 'Sel', a special kind of bread cooked in oil.

Brothers also offer their sisters 'tika' in return, wish them happiness and good luck, and give them presents.

The occasion commemorates a legendary event in which a sister has won a boon from 'Yama', the deity of death that her brother would not die until the mustard oil is dried up and the garland of 'Dubo' and 'Makhamali' faded.

The Bhaitika tradition is so strong in Nepali society that even those who have no brothers or sisters of their own receive tika from others whom they regard as brothers and sisters.  

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has asserted that the government is committed to conducting the upcoming House of Representatives election in a free and fair manner.

Addressing the ceremony of garlanding the statue of Shankhadhar Sakhwa and honouring the national luminary organized by the National Luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa Foundation, Madhyapur Thimi today, PM Karki expressed her confidence that all political parties and all sectors of society would provide support and cooperation to the government in conducting a free and fair election.

"It is well known that the government was tasked with holding the House of Representatives elections on March 5, 2026. The government has the responsibility to serve the Nepali people by addressing the legitimate voices of the Gen-Z in accordance with the Constitution of Nepal. The government is committed to creating an environment where the Nepali people can exercise their voting rights without fear in order to strengthen democracy, achieve economic prosperity, and protect citizens' rights," she said on the occasion.

The PM expressed extreme sadness over the loss of young lives and injuries to hundreds of people during the movement led by Gen-Z on the 8th and 9th of September against rampant corruption in the country.

She expressed commitment that the process of indicating the Nepal Sambat on the notes issued by the Nepal Rastra Bank will be taken forward after consulting the relevant parties.

Prime Minister Karki stated that the government's decision to mention the Nepal Sambat in official documents clearly shows that the government is keen to promote, foster and practically implement this calendar. She instructed the relevant ministries to effectively implement the Nepal Sambat in government offices and also mentioned cooperating with the Foundation for monitoring the implementation of the Nepal Sambat calendar.

She expressed that the Nepal Sambat, which was started in the year 936 in recognition of Shankhadhar Sakhwa's unparalleled contribution to society and the country, as well as his great work for social justice, did not originate from the decree of a king or marking a victory in a war, but rather arose from the public level based on the sacrifice and philanthropy of a trader, making it a calendar of high importance and carrying with it the legacy of public welfare.

Highlighting the need to follow the path shown by Shankhadhar Sakhwa to eliminate poverty and inequality in Nepali society and raise the economic status of the people, Prime Minister Karki stated that only by prioritising national interest over individual and party interests, as Shankhadhar Sakhwa did, can our national aspirations be fulfilled.

At the program, she garlanded the statue of Sakhwa and also launched the bulletin published by the Foundation.

PM Karki also on the occasion honoured the cultural scholar Chhatra Bahadur Kayastha and Nepah Pasa Pucha, USA with the Shankhadhar Sirapa award.

The chairman of the Foundation, Gyanram Shrestha, the Mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, Surendra Shrestha, and former chairmen of the Foundation, Shyam Krishna Manandhar and Madan Krishna Shrestha, among others, emphasized that more study and research should be carried out on Shankhadhar Sakhwa, and the Nepal Sambat should be fully implemented.

In a significant move to forge political consensus and create a conducive environment for the upcoming national elections, Prime Minister Sushila Karki held extensive talks with leaders of major political parties at her official residence in Baluwatar.

 The meeting marks the first such formal dialogue hosted by PM Karki since she assumed office on September 12 with a clear mandate to hold elections within six months.

The discussions focused primarily on the prevailing political instability and security concerns, which many leaders believe could hinder the scheduled elections on March 5. 

While acknowledging the challenges, PM Karki reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to holding elections on time, emphasizing the constitutional imperative and the people's right to vote.

“There is no alternative to timely elections,” PM Karki asserted. “The government is dedicated to conducting free, fair, and credible polls. Security agencies are working tirelessly to ensure a safe and secure environment.”

As part of her efforts to foster trust and transparency, Karki proposed a trilateral dialogue involving the government, representatives of Gen-Z movements, and major political parties to address outstanding issues and build consensus on the electoral process.

The Prime Minister also assured party leaders that the government is open to addressing concerns raised during the meeting, particularly around security, electoral logistics, and political participation.

Speaking after the meeting, senior Nepali Congress (NC) leader Prakash Sharan Mahat expressed reservations about the government’s preparedness, particularly regarding security arrangements.

“There is a serious lack of security for top leaders across party lines, and the morale of the security forces seems low,” Mahat said. “While the NC remains committed to participating in the elections, we are not convinced that the Ministry of Home Affairs is adequately prepared to ensure a secure and fair electoral process.”

Mahat stressed that most of the discussion centered on security concerns, which remain a key obstacle to confidence in the electoral timeline.

This latest round of dialogue comes after earlier efforts by President Ram Chandra Poudel to mediate between PM Karki and party leaders in the lead-up to the elections. With time running short, political consensus and enhanced security measures will be crucial to avoiding further delays.