Tihar Begins in Nepal With Dhanteras Celebrations Today

KATHMANDU- Nepal’s second-largest festival, Tihar, begins today with the celebration of Dhanteras, also known as Dhan Trayodashi.

Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day Tihar festival. It is traditionally considered an auspicious day to buy gold, silver, utensils and other household items.

According to religious beliefs, bringing new items home on Dhanteras is believed to bring happiness, prosperity and an increase in wealth. There is also a tradition of worshipping Goddess Lakshmi with the items purchased on this day, with the belief that she will bless the household with wealth and prosperity.

Devotees worship with a pure heart and bring home idols or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh. Installing an idol of Goddess Lakshmi seated on a lotus is considered auspicious. People may also buy clay idols or pictures according to their financial means.

Gold, silver, copper, brass and steel utensils are among the items traditionally purchased on this day. Buying at least one silver item along with utensils is considered auspicious, where possible. Religious tradition also holds that items purchased on Dhanteras should be placed in the northeast corner of the house, known as the Ishan corner.

Buying cowrie shells, lotus seeds and whole coriander seeds is also considered auspicious. These items are traditionally included in Lakshmi Puja, with the belief that they bring prosperity and mental peace.

Dhanteras is also regarded as a special day to worship Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, and Lord Kuber, the god of wealth.

As Dhanteras marks the beginning of Tihar’s religious celebrations, households traditionally pay special attention to cleaning, worship rituals and purchasing new items.