Kaag Tihar Being Observed Today

Kaag Tihar is being observed across the country today as a part of the five-day Tihar festivities. This day is observed on the 13th day of the waning moon in the month of Kartik each year as per the lunar calendar by feeding delicacies to crows, regarded in Hindu mythology as the messenger of Yamaraj, the god of death. Scriptures describe crows as the informants of Yama, who learns about human deeds through them.

On Kaag Tihar, people worship and offer food to crows, believing that doing so will encourage them to deliver good news about humans to Yamaraj.

Crows are offered rice pudding in the morning, as these foods are considered their favorite delicacies. The offering is made in the belief that the birds will convey people’s good wishes to Yama.

To mark the occasion, a special worship ceremony is being held today at the Kageshwari Mahadev Temple in Kageshwari Manohara Municipality–1, Kathmandu. Likewise, special rituals honoring crows are being performed at the Kageshwari Temple in Hanumandhoka.

The Tihar festival is also associated with the belief that Yamaraj punishes those who commit evil deeds and protects those who act virtuously. Yamaraj is also known as Dharmaraj, the ‘King of Justice’.

Meanwhile, the ritual of lighting oil lamps on the occasion of Tihar began on Saturday evening. It is believed that performing this ritual ensures freedom from suffering in the afterlife. – With inputs from RSS