Kathmandu, 23 Oct: The main day of Yama Panchak, known as Bhai Tika, is being celebrated on Thursday. On this day, sisters apply five-colored or seven-colored tika on their brothers’ foreheads with love, faith, and devotion, praying for their long life, good health, and prosperity.
Every year, this important festival of the Nepali people—celebrated on the second lunar day of the bright fortnight of Kartik (Kartik Shukla Dwitiya)—marks the sixth day of Tihar, Nepal’s second-biggest festival. Traditionally, brothers receive tika from their sisters on this day, which is also known as Yama Dwitiya. Although Tihar usually lasts for five days, this year, due to a calendar extension (tithi vriddhi), Bhai Tika falls on the sixth day, according to the Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Bikas Samiti (the official lunar calendar committee).
After sisters put tika on their brothers, the brothers also apply tika to their sisters in return. According to Hindu scriptures, worshiping one’s sister brings everlasting good fortune and prosperity, explained Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, a scholar of religious studies and a member of the Panchang Committee.
Although tika can be applied throughout the day, the most auspicious time (Abhijit Muhurat) for the ritual is 11:39 a.m., according to the Committee’s chairman, Prof. Shambhu Prasad Dhakal. This year, sisters should face east while applying tika, and brothers should face west, so that the moon in Libra (Tula Rashi) faces west—considered highly auspicious, as per scriptural rules which state that during sacred rituals, the moon should be to the right or in front.
According to the Committee, those involved in state duties or official rituals should especially perform the ceremony at the auspicious time. After worshiping the lamp, Kalash (sacred pot), and Lord Ganesh established on Laxmi Puja day, sisters prepare a main ritual plate (thali) depicting an eight-petaled lotus (Ashtadal). They then worship eight immortal beings (Ashta Chiranjivi): Markandeya, Ashwatthama, King Bali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya, and Parashurama, along with Chitragupta, Yamaraj, Yamuna, Dharmaraj, Ganesha, and the nine planets (Navagraha).
Sisters then perform the ritual by pouring oil from a sacred vessel and applying five-colored or seven-colored tika, and decorating their brothers with garlands of marigold, makhamali (gomphrena), or chrysanthemum.
Although seven-colored tika has become popular in recent times, scriptural tradition actually prescribes five colors — red, white, yellow, green, and blue, according to Dr. Bhattarai.
After tika, sisters offer their brothers walnuts, lentils, spices, and sel roti (traditional Nepali bread), while brothers reciprocate by gifting clothes, ornaments, or money as a token of respect and love.
For those without brothers or sisters, special arrangements are made at Bal Gopaleshwar Temple in the middle of Rani Pokhari, Kathmandu, which opens only once a year—on Bhai Tika day. People without siblings visit this temple to offer prayers, receive tika, and seek blessings.
Similarly, at the Khanjaneshwor Mahadev Temple in Jayabageshwori, individuals without siblings also perform worship and tika rituals.
Before 1978 (B.S. 2035), due to safety concerns—when devotees used to jump into the pond to reach the temple—the Bal Gopaleshwar Temple inside Rani Pokhari remained closed, leading many to visit Khanjaneshwor Temple instead. Though the crowds have lessened in recent years, many still line up there on Bhai Tika day for worship.
After 1978, the Bal Gopaleshwar Temple inside Rani Pokhari began opening regularly every year for this special occasion.
Among the Newar community, Bhai Tika is celebrated as Kija Puja. However, in Bhaktapur, some Newar families observed Kija Puja on Wednesday, following the decision made by the Taleju Temple priests, according to the Bhaktapur Municipality.
