Tihar 2026 Dates: Kukur Tihar, Laxmi Puja, Bhai Tika and the Complete Five-Day Festival Calendar - Nepali Festival of Lights

Tihar 2026, one of the most important festivals celebrated by Nepali communities, will bring five days of lights, prayers, family gatherings and traditional festivities in November. Also known as Yamapanchak and associated with Deepawali, Tihar celebrates the relationship between humans and animals, honours Goddess Laxmi, and concludes with Bhai Tika, a special occasion dedicated to the bond between brothers and sisters.

The festival holds a special place in the lives of Nepali families, whether they live in Nepal, India or other parts of the world. From lighting traditional oil lamps and decorating homes with marigold flowers to singing Deusi-Bhailo songs and exchanging blessings, Tihar brings generations together to preserve their cultural heritage.

In 2026, Tihar is expected to be observed from November 7 to November 11 according to commonly listed Nepali-calendar dates. The festival's observances and their exact dates can vary across regional calendars and communities, so families should check their local Panchang for confirmation.

Tihar 2026: Dates and Five-Day Festival Calendar

Date	Festival	Significance
November 7, 2026	Kag Tihar	Honouring crows and their symbolic role as messengers
November 8, 2026	Kukur Tihar and Laxmi Puja	Honouring dogs and worshipping Goddess Laxmi
November 9, 2026	Gai Tihar	Honouring cows and their significance in Hindu traditions
November 10, 2026	Goru Tihar, Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja	Honouring working animals, nature and the self, according to community traditions
November 11, 2026	Bhai Tika	Celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters

Date note: This table follows commonly listed dates for Tihar 2083 BS. Some Indian and regional calendars place individual observances on different dates. Verify local Panchang timings before publishing exact puja muhurats.

What Is Tihar? Understanding the Festival of Lights

Tihar is a major annual festival associated with Nepali Hindu traditions. It is celebrated through worship, lights, flowers, music, food and family reunions. Although it shares similarities with Diwali, Tihar has distinctive customs that give it a separate cultural identity, particularly the dedicated days for animals and the celebration of Bhai Tika. The festival is also known as Yamapanchak, a name associated with Yama, the Hindu god of death. Several Tihar traditions honour animals linked with religious stories and beliefs, while the festival's final day focuses on the relationship between siblings.

The Five Days of Tihar 2026: Rituals and Significance

1. Kag Tihar - November 7, 2026

Kag Tihar marks the beginning of the five-day festival. On this day, crows are offered food because they are traditionally associated with messages and with Yama in Nepali religious beliefs.

Families may place grains, rice, sweets or other offerings outdoors for crows. The ritual reflects the belief that showing respect to these birds can help ward off misfortune and maintain harmony.

Kag Tihar introduces one of the festival's central themes: recognising the place of animals in human life and expressing gratitude through traditional offerings.

2. Kukur Tihar and Laxmi Puja - November 8, 2026

The second day of Tihar brings together two important observances: Kukur Tihar, dedicated to dogs, and Laxmi Puja, performed in the evening to honour Goddess Laxmi.

Kukur Tihar: Honouring the loyalty of dogs

Kukur Tihar celebrates dogs for their loyalty, companionship and role in protecting people and homes. Dogs are traditionally adorned with marigold garlands, given tika on their foreheads and offered special food. The ritual is associated with Hindu beliefs about dogs and their connection with Yama. It is also a reminder to treat animals with kindness and recognise their importance in everyday life.

Laxmi Puja: Welcoming prosperity and good fortune

Laxmi Puja is observed on the evening of November 8, alongside Kukur Tihar. The ritual honours Goddess Laxmi, who is associated with wealth, prosperity and good fortune.

Families clean and decorate their homes, light traditional diyos, arrange flowers and create rangoli patterns near entrances. Lamps and lights are placed around doorways and windows as a symbolic welcome to the goddess.

Many households perform evening prayers and prepare offerings, while shops and businesses may also conduct puja for prosperity and success.

3. Gai Tihar - November 9, 2026

Gai Tihar is dedicated to cows, which hold an important place in Hindu traditions. Cows are associated with nourishment, maternal care and generosity. On this day, families traditionally honour cows with food, tika, flower garlands and prayers. The observance expresses gratitude for the role cows have played in agricultural and domestic life.

In the 2026 calendar, Gai Tihar falls on November 9, while Laxmi Puja takes place on the evening of November 8. Although the two observances are closely associated with Tihar, they should not be presented as occurring on the same date in this calendar.

4. Goru Tihar, Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja - November 10, 2026

The fourth day includes several observances that differ according to community and religious tradition.

Goru Tihar: Honouring oxen

Goru Tihar recognises the importance of oxen, traditionally valued for their contribution to farming and agricultural life. Oxen may be honoured with tika, garlands and food as an expression of gratitude for their labour.

Govardhan Puja: Celebrating nature and divine protection

Govardhan Puja is associated with Lord Krishna and the story of Govardhan Hill, which he is believed to have lifted to protect villagers from heavy rain. The observance highlights the importance of nature, sustenance and divine protection.

Maha Puja: Honouring the self

Maha Puja is a distinctive Newar tradition observed during the Tihar period. It involves worshipping and honouring the self, symbolising purification, well-being and renewal.

Families arrange mandalas and offerings and perform rituals that recognise the importance of personal well-being. Maha Puja is also associated with the beginning of Nepal Sambat, the Newar calendar year. In 2026, Nepal Sambat 1147 began on November 10.

Not every Nepali family observes all these rituals. Their practices depend on religious background, cultural heritage and family traditions.

5. Bhai Tika - November 11, 2026

Bhai Tika marks the final day of Tihar and celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. It is among the most cherished family occasions in Nepali culture.

Sisters traditionally apply colourful tika to their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long lives, health and happiness. The ceremony may include flower garlands, fruits, sweets, traditional food and blessings. Brothers and sisters also exchange gifts as an expression of affection and mutual care.

A seven-colour tika, known as saptarangi tika, is commonly associated with the ceremony. Makhamali flower garlands, valued for their durability, are also part of traditional Bhai Tika rituals. The celebration is associated with the religious story of Yama and his sister Yamuna, although versions of the story vary.

Deusi-Bhailo: The Musical Tradition of Tihar

Deusi-Bhailo is an important cultural feature of Tihar. Groups traditionally visit homes and sing festive songs, offering blessings and spreading the spirit of celebration. Hosts respond with food, money or other gifts, and the gatherings create a sense of community.

The tradition may involve singing, dancing, music and playful exchanges between performers and hosts. In contemporary celebrations, Nepali communities abroad may organise Deusi-Bhailo programmes in community halls, residential neighbourhoods, universities or cultural centres.

The songs and performances are more than entertainment. They help carry cultural memories from one generation to another and create opportunities for families and neighbours to participate together.

Tihar Decorations, Traditional Food and Family Celebrations

Decorating homes is an important part of Tihar. Families use traditional oil lamps, electric lights, marigold garlands and colourful rangoli designs to create a festive atmosphere.

Sel roti, a traditional ring-shaped rice bread, is among the best-known foods associated with Tihar. Families also prepare sweets, fruits and special meals for relatives and guests. Food offerings are prepared for animals honoured during the festival.

Card games and other traditional activities may form part of family gatherings, depending on local customs. For many households, preparing food together, decorating the home and visiting relatives are as important as the formal rituals.

Families celebrating outside Nepal may adapt decorations and meals to the ingredients and materials available locally while retaining the spirit of the festival.

Tihar vs Diwali: What Is the Difference?

Tihar and Diwali share several features, including the lighting of lamps, decorations, prayers for prosperity and family gatherings. Both are celebrated during the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, although exact dates and local practices vary.

However, Tihar is particularly associated with its sequence of observances honouring crows, dogs, cows and oxen, along with Maha Puja in Newar communities and Bhai Tika on the final day. These customs give the festival a distinctive place within Nepali cultural life.

Diwali, meanwhile, encompasses a wide range of regional traditions across India and other parts of the world. Lakshmi Puja, the worship of Lord Rama in certain traditions, regional New Year celebrations and other observances vary by location.

Why Is Tihar Important for Nepali Families?

Tihar brings together themes of gratitude, prosperity, compassion, renewal and family relationships. Each day offers a different opportunity to reflect on the connections between people, animals, nature and the divine. Its importance also extends beyond religious rituals. Preparing festive meals, cleaning and decorating homes, singing Deusi-Bhailo songs, visiting relatives and exchanging blessings help strengthen community ties.