Photo: Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tihar 2083 falls in early November 2026. Laxmi Puja is on Sunday, November 8; the Gai Puja holiday is on Monday, November 9; Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja are on Tuesday, November 10; and Bhai Tika is on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Tihar, also called Deepawali or Yamapanchak, starts about two and a half weeks after Dashain's tika. Its five days honor the crow, the dog, the cow and Laxmi, the self (Mha Puja), and brothers and sisters. The full holiday list is on the holidays calendar.
Tihar 2083 at a glance
| Date (2026) | Day | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, November 7 | Kag Tihar | Crows are fed |
| Sunday, November 8 | Kukur Tihar and Laxmi Puja | Dogs are worshipped in the morning, Laxmi in the evening |
| Monday, November 9 | Gai Puja | Cow worship (public holiday) |
| Tuesday, November 10 | Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja | Ox and Govardhan worship; Newar self-worship and Nepal Sambat New Year |
| Wednesday, November 11 | Bhai Tika | Sisters give tika to brothers |
| Thursday, November 12 | Extra Tihar holiday | Public holiday |
The first days: crow and dog
On Kag Tihar, families feed crows, which are considered messengers of Yama, the god of death. Food is placed on a leaf plate on the roof or on a wall before breakfast. On Kukur Tihar, dogs get a marigold garland, tika and good food. This includes pet dogs and street dogs. Photos of garlanded dogs from Kukur Tihar are shared widely outside Nepal every year.
In most years the crow and the dog each have their own day before Laxmi Puja. In 2083 the tithis fall close together: Kag Tihar is on Saturday, November 7, and Kukur Tihar is on Sunday, November 8, the same day as Laxmi Puja.
Laxmi Puja: Sunday, November 8
Laxmi Puja is the main evening of Tihar. Before it, families clean the house and paint the doorway with red mud and rice-flour patterns. A line of small footprints is drawn from the door to the prayer room to lead Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, into the house. After dark, oil lamps and electric lights are lit on windowsills and walls. Laxmi is worshipped with sel roti, sweets, fruit and the family's account books.
The cow is seen as Laxmi's form on earth and is usually worshipped on the morning of Laxmi Puja. In 2083, Gai Puja moves to Monday, November 9. Deusi and bhailo also start on Laxmi Puja night. Groups go from house to house singing traditional songs, giving blessings and receiving money and food in return. Traditionally, girls sing bhailo and boys sing deusi.
Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja: Tuesday, November 10
Two different observances fall on the fourth day. In the Hindu tradition it is Govardhan Puja. People worship the ox and Govardhan hill, which Krishna is said to have lifted, and make a small Govardhan hill from cow dung in the courtyard for worship.
In the Newar tradition the evening is Mha Puja, the worship of one's own body and self. Each family member sits in front of a mandala made of flour, fruit and lamps, and is worshipped for health and long life in the coming year. Mha Puja is also New Year's Day of Nepal Sambat, the lunisolar calendar of Kathmandu valley. Processions are held that evening to mark the new year.
Bhai Tika: Wednesday, November 11
Bhai Tika is the last day of Tihar. Sisters put a seven-colour tika on their brothers' foreheads, draw a circle of oil around them and put on them a garland of makhamali (globe amaranth), a flower that stays fresh for a long time. They pray for their brothers' long life. Brothers give gifts in return and promise to protect their sisters.
The story behind Bhai Tika is about a sister who kept Yama from taking her brother. She asked him to wait until the tika faded, the oil circle dried and the makhamali garland wilted. People without a brother or sister often receive or give tika to a cousin or a close friend for the day.
Planning notes for Tihar 2083
Public holidays run from Laxmi Puja on November 8 to the extra Tihar holiday on November 12, the day after Bhai Tika. With Saturday, November 7 added, that is six days off in a row. Offices and schools are closed on the holidays, so plan bank and government work for before November 7 or after November 12.
Buy marigold garlands and oil lamps early. Marigold prices go up in the two days before Laxmi Puja.
Expect queues for sel roti at local shops, or make it at home.
Fireworks are restricted by law, but are widely used anyway. Keep pets indoors in the evening.
Deusi and bhailo groups can come until midnight. Keep some money and food ready.
If you run a shop or keep accounts, settle them before Laxmi Puja evening. By tradition, Laxmi favours settled accounts.
The tithi behind each day is on the daily panchang.