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The flower fields of Nepal's Gundu village glimmer yellow, orange and purple as women harvest blooms, a flourishing industry changing tough village lives by providing garlands for Hindu festivals.

Nestled on the rim of Kathmandu Valley, Gundu is renowned for supplying the brightly-coloured globe amaranth and marigold flowers, with demand surging for this week's Tihar celebrations, also known as Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

At dawn, the village women gather in the fields to harvest the blooms that will, by the day's end, be woven into garlands to adorn homes and temples.

The women of Gundu have turned this seasonal bloom into a thriving industry, despite a labor-intensive process of picking and weaving them into garlands.

"This has provided more jobs for women of our village," said flower farmer Saraswoti Bista, 56.

"We don't have to leave home, and by weaving garlands, we earn a good income," she added.

Nepal, a majority-Hindu Himalayan nation, has a GDP per capita of $1,324, according to the World Bank.

The flourishing trade has transformed Gundu into a model for flower production, with nearly 500 households supplying over one million garlands every year, generating over $133,000, according to the local village authority.

As the festival peaks, garlands spill from rooftops and porches, filling the village with vibrant purple, red, and orange, a floral hub in Nepal.

The dramatic deep purple-coloured globe amaranth, known in Nepal as makhmali, is in special demand during the five-day festival of Tihar.

The dried blooms can last for months -- or even years -- with proper care.

The garlands are given by sisters to their brothers on the fifth day of Tihar, as a symbolic offering wishing for their long life.

Nepal produced an estimated 2.5 million garlands of globe amaranth flowers in 2024, a 10 percent increase since last year, according to the Floriculture Association Nepal.

"It also supplies to different countries," said flower association representative Dilip Bade.

The country is set to export 200,000 garlands, valued at $1.4 million, to the United States, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Europe, according to the floriculture association.

But while the flower industry is blossoming, heavy flooding worsened by climate change hit the floriculture sector hard, resulting in estimated losses of over $1.1 million. AFP

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav said the festivals including Tihar would contribute to keep the country's economy moving.

In his message on the occasion of Tihar festival, 2081 BS today, Vice President Yadav extended his best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers at home and abroad for their happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and progress and also called for all to remain aware of negative impact of bursting firecrackers for celebrations in the environment.

He expressed the belief that the festival would strengthen the spirit of social harmony, fraternity and national and community unity. "Tihar is an important festival from the religious, cultural and social perspectives. It is not only a festival but also an integral part of Nepali culture and tradition", the message reads.

Vice President Yadav said that Tihar is also a message of unity in diversity, which includes various customs, lifestyles, traditions and rituals.

"Although there is diversity in our traditions and rituals celebrated, the thrust is to impart the message of knowledge over ignorance and victory of light over darkness, largely to consolidate unity and harmony in the country", Yadav noted in his message.

The Supreme Court will remain open during the Tihar holidays also to hear into habeas corpus writ petition.

The Supreme Court Administration stated in a notice it issued today that the Court will be open from 11am to 3pm on other days of the Tihar festival (October 31 to November 4), except on Saturday and the day of Bhai Tika (November 3).

The Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee has announced the auspicious hour for this year's Bhaitika.

Executive Director of the Committee Surya Prasad Dhungel said that the auspicious time for Bhai Tika is 11:37 am, Sunday.

The committee said that the Kija Puja observed by the Newar community will also be celebrated on the same day.

This year's Tihar, the second biggest festival of Nepali Hindus, is starting from Tuesday.

Dhantrayodashi (Dhanteras) festival is celebrated on Tuesday while Yamdeepdan falls on Wednesday. Kag Tihar will also be celebrated on Wednesday itself.

Kukur Tihar and Lakshmi Puja will be celebrated on Thursday.

Gai Puja, Govardhan Puja, Bali Puja, Halitihar, Mhapuja and Nepal Sambat 1145 fall on Saturday.

Similarly, the committee also informed that the Chhath festival falls on Thursday.

Tihar is less than a week away and it’s best to get a head start on all the cleaning and organizing lest you find yourself overburdened and thus unable to enjoy the festivities. Most of us wait for Laxmi Puja or a day before to get our homes in order. We are doing chores till the last minute and that way we miss out on the fun as we are tired and just want to get things over with. This year, start early and ensure you have enough time to meet friends and family, enjoy a good meal or two, and make memories to last a lifetime, all without collapsing on your bed at the end of the day.

Tackle the difficult tasks

This weekend, tackle chores that you haven’t paid attention to in a while. Air out your cupboards and clean the shoe cabinets. These places can gather dust and odd smells and airing them out will instantly make your space feel cleaner and fresher. Add some air freshener sachets when you are done. While you are at it, see if there are things—clothes, shoes, accessories—you haven’t used in a while that you would like to give away and put them away in bags and boxes. You can drop them at charity centers like the Sukhawati Store before Tihar for a tidier space.

Deep clean your kitchen equipment

Did you come across some great tricks to clean the microwave or the refrigerator on Instagram? You saved the reel but never actually got around to trying them out? Tihar is the perfect time to do a deep clean of things you use regularly but don’t clean as often, like the oven, washing machine, toaster, etc. Make a list of things you need to clean and tackle a couple each day till Tihar. This way you won’t have to spend too much time on the chores and will also have a cleaner space when it’s finally festival time. Ask your siblings or partner for help.

Give things a fresh coat of paint

Everyone in the city tends to paint their flowerpots during Dashain or Tihar. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, now is the perfect time. The weather is just right. Getting flower pots painted is the easiest way to make your home festival ready as it infuses a bright, cheery feel to your space. While you are at it, take a look at what else needs a facelift. Perhaps your front door needs a good polish or the compound walls are looking a little drab. Invest in some paint and roller brushes and work those muscles. This actually makes for a fun family activity.

Get out the festive décor and light

It’s not unusual to wait for the last possible minute to hang the Tihar lights. But why not take a cue from the city which is already lit up in many places and bring out the string lights and lanterns at home a few days before Laxmi Puja? That way you won’t be scrabbling to fix them when it’s actually time and will also get to enjoy the festive feel for a few extra days. Give your puja vessels a good wash or wipe down during the weekend and keep them ready. Also, display whatever festive décor items you have at home well in advance so that your home exudes the Tihar vibe all week long.

Buy yourself some flowers

A bunch of flowers in a vase is one of the easiest ways to lend opulence to your living space. If you are someone who doesn’t splurge on flowers, the festival of lights is the perfect excuse to give into this simple luxury. Buy a bunch and watch your space come alive. You can also use garlands to decorate staircases and entryways. Put some flowers and floating candles in large urns and enjoy the simple, satisfying feeling of a cozy night at home.

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 10: 51 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.  

The fourth day of Tihar is being celebrated today by worshiping Govardhan Parbat. The ox is also worshiped and provided with delicious food today.

Today, people prepare a mixture of cow dung and ochre formed into paste and apply on the house yard and floors and make a replica of the Govardhan Mountain from cow dung and worship it.

Theologian Prof Dr Devmani Bhattarai said the ritual of worshiping Govardhan Puja was established in memory of protecting the people of a place, Gokul, by Lord Krishna from torrential rains by lifting Govardhan mountain by his hand. It is believed that the god of rain, Indra, was angered and thereby caused heavy downpour.

Similarly, ox is also worshiped as the vehicle of Lord Shiva today.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed the belief that festivals including Tihar have an important role in preparing the ideological, political, economic and cultural basis of socialism while protecting and strengthening the changed political system.

In a message of best wishes today, PM Dahal extended hearty best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers within the country and abroad on the happy occasion of the auspicious Deepawali, the big festival of the Nepalis.

He stated that the federal democratic republic achieved from a big struggle and sacrifice has provided us with an extensive base to keep the country's independence and dignity high by strengthening internal nationality.

"Festivals including Tihar are also an important context reflecting Nepal's unique identity. This festival makes the family reunion, social harmony and unity, and national independence, strong. It deepens the contribution of birds and animals playing the role of production, labor, information and social sentinel, and their interaction with humans. Cultural activities including Deusi Bhailo that are held during these festivals make an important contribution to creating an environment of gaiety and fervor as well as to promoting culture," the PM observed.

Stating that Nepal has remained as a place of convergence of multi-ethnic, multilingual and multi-cultural features as well as of immense natural resources and civilization, PM Dahal said our diverse traditions, cultures and festivals are not only the common assets but also an important basis for culturally and emotionally tying the country and the people on a thread of unity.

"The national festivals celebrated by the diverse castes, indigenous nationalities and communities are founded on natural heritage and historicity. Incorporated in such festivals are ideals like respect to labor, social feeling and amity, social coexistence, collaboration at times of challenges that come in human life and overcoming such adversities on the basis of unity," stated the Prime Minister in his message of best wishes. 

Deepawali, which literally means ‘the row of lamps’ is celebrated as the festival of lights in the month of October or November (Asoj or Kartik), about a fortnight after Dashain. This festival is also called Tihar, which lasts for five consecutive days and is observed in honor of Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck. It is the most friendly festival observed throughout Nepal and also India. Laxmi, the goddess of prosperity and good fortune is invited into every home. People enjoy five days of feasting and family gatherings. It also heralds the advent of autumn in Nepal. Natural scenery is very pleasant during this time of the year. 

The aroma of Deepawali pervades the atmosphere several days before the actual festival begins. During Deepawali, traditional lamps are lit with twisted cotton wicks (Batti) saturated with pure ghee or mustard oil in a small earthen bowl called Diya. So it is also called Diyabati. It is usually solemnized in the last week of October or the first week of November on the occasion of Amabasya or Aunsi (full dark night of Kartik) according to the Nepali lunar calendar. In this period, the sky is starry but the moon is missing in the milky sky throughout the whole night. A gentle, genial and warm weather continues and purifies the mind of the Nepali people during this festival. This festivity reflects true rejoicing and jubilation of the masses.

Laxmi Puja is observed on the auspicious occasion of Deepawali. This is the third day of Tihar when the sacred cow is worshiped with great honor. Hindus worship and regard the cow as their holy mother. So people worship the cow in the morning with garlands of flowers and apply red tika on her forehead. Thus the Hindus pay their tribute to the mother cow. The ceremony is solemnized with reverence in the morning hour of Deepawali. This tradition was initiated by the people of Ayodhya  to express their boundless joy when Lord Rama returned after 14 years’ exile. This is illustrated in the Ramayan.

A few days before Tihar, preparations are in full swing for cleaning and whitewashing to add a new look to houses and buildings. During this festival, houses, shops, offices, factories and mills are brightly decorated with lights. They are also illuminated with electric bulbs and traditional lamps. It is a time of lights and decorations. This type of illumination is done for five consecutive days, beginning from the first day of Tihar. But special light arrangements are done on the day of Laxmi Puja. Oil-fed traditional lamps light courtyards, doorways, roof-tops, verandahs and windows. All streets and roads are full of flags and beautiful banners. People stroll around in new clothes and buy sweets and gifts. 

After the illumination in the evening, the main part of Laxmi Puja is performed at night. An illuminated and well-decorated house is believed to draw the goddess of prosperity. This also makes for easy entrance of Laxmi to every house. It is believed that the goddess of wealth is ritually invited to enter the house and offer blessing to its occupants. For this purpose, a ritualistic drawing is made of purified cow-dung plaster to guide Laxmi through the main door. From the drawing, a trail of plaster of rice and red vermillion leads into the house and the room where Laxmi is worshiped with utmost devotion and dedication. 

A beautifully decorated image of Goddess Laxmi is placed before the family treasure box or safe, which contains hard cash, jewels and jewelleries, valuable documents, ornaments and cheque books. Prayers are offered, believing that the fortunes will grow.

Throughout the whole night the earthen lamps filled with ghee or pure mustard oil, are kept burning at the place where the goddess of wealth is worshiped. To please this prosperous and generous goddess of good luck all the doors and windows of the house are decorated attractively. Nobody wants to miss this golden opportunity. Thus there is competition in the worship of the wealth goddess. Everybody tries his best to welcome and please the goddess of prosperity. She loves lights and sacred cowrie shells. Children love to play with fireworks during Tihar, especially during Laxmi Puja. However, as free crackers could be dangerous and harmful, they are banned in Nepal these days.

It is understood that being the wife of Lord Vishnu, Laxmi is the paragon of beauty, who sprang from the fathom of the sea when Gods and the Demons churned the sea together. There was a tug-of-war between Gods and Demons. At last, Lord Vishnu chose her as his life partner. She wears a crown of jewels and garlands of scented flowers. Her arms are bedecked with heavenly gems. She is herself considered a valuable treasure of the ocean. She holds a conch shell in one hand, blossomed lotus in the other, a sheaf of rice in the third one and a jar full of nectar in her fourth hand. She loves to rest on a fully-blown lotus with her husband Vishnu under the shadow (hood) of Sheshnag (mythological snake).

The Nepalis worship this benevolent goddess and offer gifts and sweets to please her. She is believed to travel around the earth on an owl, her vehicle, making house-to-house inspection to see whether it is clean or not. Being a lover of light, she also observes whether a light is left burning throughout the whole night in her honor or not. She thus visits every house. If pleased, she protects all the valuable things and grain-stores of each family and grants prosperity for the coming year. For this purpose, every house is decorated with red powder, flowers and festoons. She likes to visit only those houses, which are fully prepared and artistically decorated. 

All monetary transactions are forbidden on this auspicious occasion. The only exception is the giving of small coins and food (Selroti) to small groups of Bhailo singers. Groups of singers go door to door singing and dancing and asking for money. This is a time-honored tradition. Girls are supposed to ask for money on this solemn occasion. Boys’ turn comes the next day, which is called Deusi. 

Deepawali is also considered auspicious for gambling. Before 1940, gambling was legal in Nepal during the five days of Tihar. Nowadays, it is banned in public according to the law but people still gamble in their houses. Happy gamblers assemble at certain houses; sit on carpets shouting their bets, throwing the cowrie shells. In the ancient days, cowrie shells were considered a medium of exchange. It is believed that Laxmi loves gambling. 

The final day of Tihar is spent in friendly family gambling. 

Before 1940, during the five days of Tihar troupes of musicians used to go around the town announcing that games were now open to all. Gambling seems to receive semi religious sanction during Tihar in the belief that it is pleasing to Goddess Laxmi.

Newars of the Kathmandu valley perform Mha Puja on the first day of the bright lunar fortnight of Kartik. It is the worship of one’s body or self. It is believed that the human body is divine and the heavenly spirit dwells in it. The Puja is performed for purifying the heart and the soul for the coming New Year. The day also honors Yama, the lord of death. 

On the last day of Tihar called Bhai Tika, sisters worship their brothers, who bestow blessings and benediction upon their sisters for a long and prosperous conjugal life. Sisters also pray to God for their brothers' long life and wish them success in all walks of life. 

The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee has announced 10: 51 am as the auspicious time for receiving and offering Bhai Tika of Tihar festival.

Surya Prasad Dhungel, Executive Director of the Committee, made public the time by issuing a statement on Monday.

This year's Kag Tihar, the festival of crow, falls on November 11 and the Laxmi Puja (worship of Hindu Goddess Laxmi), one of the major celebrations of the Tihar festival, falls on November 12.

The Gai Puja falls on November 13. Cows are worshiped with Hindu rituals on this day. We are observing the Solar eclipse same day, according to him.

Gobardhan Puja falls on November 14. Oxen are worshiped on this day. The Newar community will celebrate the Mha Puja (worship of the self) on the same day.

The tika for this year's Tihar festival will be observed on November 15 and sisters and brothers exchange the Saptarangi tika (seven-coloured tika) on the occasion. Sisters put tika on their brothers wishing for their wellbeing and longevity and offer them special Tihar delicacies as well. In return brothers also give the Tika and gifts to their sisters.  The Newar community will celebrate the Kija Puja (Bhai Tika) the same day.