This weekend in Nepal begins the Tihar festival! The festival is held from October 19 (Sunday, Crow Tihar, 2025) to October 23 (Thursday, Bhai Tika, 2025). The second biggest Nepali festival after Dashain, this five-day celebration honors the interconnectedness of all beings. Celebrants light diyo inside and outside the home in the form of candles or electric lights and make patterns (called rangoli) on the floors of living rooms or courtyards using various materials such as colored rice or sand, dry flour, or flower petals. These materials are used as a sacred welcoming for the gods and goddesses, particularly Lakshmi. The festival of Tihar emphasizes the interdependence of humans with other sentient beings and nurtures the balance of ecology, with an exchange and appreciation of feelings, goodwill, and gifts. Such celebrations highlight the importance of cultivating a harmonious coexistence to help maintain a healthy religious and social life. Learn about the unique meaning and c...