 Pradipna Raj Panta

Nepalis celebrate the Tihar based on where they live. But there is one common theme, no matter where people celebrate it: the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance.
The traditions and celebrations are many. And so are the stories! Mythology and folklore go hand in hand and we often find diverse versions of mythological legends behind Tihar woven into the Nepali folklore and folk songs.
For most, Tihar is the day when Lord Rama returned home with Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman after his victory over Ravana. The celebrations are ceremonies, which last for five days, in pleasure of his homecoming by his followers and cohorts by lighting their houses and streets. Others believe the origin of the festival dates back to the Satya Yuga (truth era). According to the legend, Goddess Lakshmi was born on the 15th day after the full moon or no moonlight day (Amavashya) after churning the cosmic energy (Samundra Manthan) and chose to stay and wed Lord Vishnu. Since then that particular Amavashya which falls on the third day of
Tihar each year was also named Deepawali and is celebrated to enjoy the marriage of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Deepawali originated from the Sanskrit word meaning row of lights. Hence, people often line earthen lamps (diyo) and other artificial lights to illuminate their personal space.
In the Far West region, this festival is celebrated as the victory of Kali over demons. In some districts of State 2, Tihar is the day when Lord Krishna lifted mount Govardhan to protect his village people from the wrath of Lord Indra. Also known as Govardhan Pooja it is celebrated in the rest of the country on the fourth day of Tihar. Another tale behind the festival refers to Narak Chaturdashi, the second day of Tihar, as the day when Lord Krishna slew the devil Narakasur and unfettered the 16,000 women he had held captive.
The fifth or last day of Tihar is called Bhai Tika. It is observed by sisters applying seven-coloured tika on the foreheads of their brothers to ensure long life and thank them for the protection they provide. It is believed that the God of Death, Yamaraj, visited his sister Yamuna, on this special day to receive Tika. At the end, Yama gave her a boon that whoever would visit his sister on this day, would be liberated of all his sins and would achieve Mokshya (liberation).

Folklore and folk songs
Given the many different stories and events related to the festival, it is not surprising that Tihar is celebrated differently. But one thing that is common all over Nepal is folk songs, music and dance. Almost all regions of Nepal have their own folk music, which reflects the way of their life. Even though folk music has lost its popularity in recent days with the advent of western music like pop and rap, no traditional festival or celebration is complete without folk music. Deusi and Bhailo are the popular folk music during Tihar.
Deusi and Bhailo are linked to the day of Balipratipada i.e. the story of King Mahabali (Bali) and Lord Vishnu’s fourth incarnation called Vaman. According to the legend, Bali had defeated all the gods and enslaved Goddess Lakshmi. King Bali was a generous and benevolent man who engaged himself in severe austerities and penance and won the praise of the entire universe. But he was pompous in his activities and believed that he could help anyone and could donate whatever they asked for. Once Vaman in the form of a mendicant approached Bali and asked for three steps of land. Bali agreed to this, against the warning of his guru Sukracharya. In two steps with his giant stride Vaman covered the three worlds – earth, heaven and underworld. Unable to fulfil his promise, seeing the mistake of his ways, Bali bowed his head in obeisance before the revealed Vaman, who stepped on it and pushed him to the netherworld. Vaman thus rescued Goddess Lakshmi from Bali’s captivity. As Bali was pushed down into the netherworld, he made a last wish. He wished that he be allowed to visit his kingdom earth once a year to ensure that his people were still happy and well fed. Lord Vishnu was pleased to grant his wish.
The Tihar is also a celebration of welcoming Bali home to his lost kingdom. The legend is that it was impossible for Bali to travel the entire earth overnight so he requested his people for volunteerism to help him in assessing their condition. Those volunteers had an obligation to complete people’s happiness check. Furthermore, the volunteers’ additional job was to spread the message of god i.e. god showers divine light to all, irrespective of what they do. While visiting from door to door those volunteers also used to explain the importance of donation and present themselves in dignified ways. Since then, even today adult and children declaring themselves as volunteers of Bali go from door to door singing “We are sent by the king Bali” and collecting presents consisting of fruits, cash, bread or any product of the fields as giving donation is an indicator of people’s happiness and being well-fed. Among several songs intended to spread the message and understand people’s happiness in Tihar, there are two more remarkable than the rest i.e. Bhailo and Deusi.
Bali stories are partly legendary, partly religious and have been told and retold not only to entertain, but also to inculcate in people a sense of belonging to the cultural heritage of the nation.
First a brief look at the Bhailo. Bhailo is the practice of women going from door to door, suggesting first to broom and clean the house and singing to the house owners’ good health and prosperity for the coming year. The performers of the Bhailo are called Bhailinees.
Traditionally Bhailo is celebrated on the third day of Tihar (Lakshmi Pooja) and it is the gift and donation giving by the house owner to Bhailinees which is distinct from begging. This point is made in the song. “Here Bhailinees come in your courtyard, broom and clean the house”. After informing the house owner, the Bhailinees sing the scripted song which is as follows.

Bhailinees have come in the courtyard
A gift of Gunyu (Sari) Choli (Blouse) is our request
Hey, this day is Aunshi (Amavashya, no moonlight day)
It is the festival of cow, Bhailo

(Your floor) refined with cow dung
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped
Hey, this day is Aunshi (no moonlight day)
It is the festival of cow, Bhailo

We have not come here without reason
We have been sent by the King Bali
Hey, this day is Aunshi (no moonlight day)
It is the festival of cow, Bhailo

It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides at the back of a cow. So cow worship is a very sacred practice. People in Nepal smear mustard oil and vermilion on the back of the cow and offer their worship at Tihar. This is an important part of Lakshmi Pooja. So in the song, Bhailinees remind the house owner of the “festival of cow”.
After the song, the owner of the house would give food, selroti (bread), fruit, drink and money to the Bhailinees in exchange for their blessing and goodwill, i.e.

Love and joy come to you
And Goddess Lakshmi blesses you and
Gives you prosperity, wealth and good health.
Deusi is conducted by men and boys and each

Deusi group consists a minimum of six performers. The leader of each group is known as guru and remaining members are called Deuse. There are some common scripts similar to Bhailo such as “We did not come here without reason; we were sent by the King Bali.” Then they describe the difficulties they faced on the way to their house. Scripts such as Bhana bhana bhai ho - Deusire, Ramrari bhana - Deusire (Speak - Speak my brother - Deusire, Speak it well – Deusire) is common all over Nepal. Besides this there is no particular script as such and people present some love story, the story of Rama or Krishna through their song. Along with that they include some dance, some acting and recitation in their act. And finally they use the word of blessing such as those who give handful of gifts, their roof will be of gold, etc, etc and pray for the owners’ good health and prosperity.
Folk song and music is diverse in Nepal because of the cultural diversity. While the method of usage is more or less same throughout Nepal, the style in which it is sung and the way in which it is perceived differs from state to state. In most districts of State 1, 3 and Gandaki, Bhailo is performed by women and Deusi by men but in Karnali, Far West, and State 5, it is just the opposite, Bhailo is performed by males and Deusi is played by females.
In State 5 and Karnali, Deusi and Bhailo also describe the characters from Mahabharata and Ramayana. And in State 1, Gandaki and 4 the subject matter of Deusi deals with nature, love and philosophy. Deusi literally means give your head (Sanskrit: Deu means Give, Sheer means Head) and hence, the performer’s expression constitutes the most important aspect of head movement and clapping of this form of song.

Tihar celebration
Many myths and legends are associated with Tihar but it is a festival considered to be of great significance as it acknowledges importance of not just humans and gods but also of the nature. During Tihar, birds like crows and ravens and animals like cows, oxen and dogs that maintain an intimate relationship with humans are also worshipped.
From time immemorial our Bhailinees have emphasized cleanliness as cleanliness is the first essential step to please anyone. So the preparation of this festival begins with people cleaning their streets and their surroundings. Then homes are thoroughly cleaned up and windows and doors are left open to let the goddess Lakshmi in. Then they decorate places with flowers, lamps and lights.
Then the celebration starts with buying jewelry and utensils on Dhanteras. Buying metal on Dhanteras is believed to drive evil spells away from home and bring in prosperity. Dhanteras is followed by Narak Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Pooja, Govardhan Pooja
and finally Bhai Tika. Bhai Tika marks the end of this festival.In Lakshmi Pooja, Aipan (paste of rice) is drawn and then coloured geometric designs with symbol of Lakshmi Paduka (Goddess Lakshmi’ foot) are drawn on the ground at the entrance of homes. The purpose of Lakshmi Paduka is to welcome and encourage Goddess Lakshmi inside.
In Tihar everyone is well dressed, everyone is on holiday, everyone is inviting each other; there is a lot of warmth.
Cards are often played in villages and cities, as it is generally considered auspicious to gamble during Tihar. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi can be invoked through gambling. Various games are played. The most popular are Marriage (21-card brag), Farash (three-card brag), Langur Burja and rhinestone dice (Kauda). However, gambling is now totally prohibited and punishable by the law of the land.
Whatever the tradition, the important thing is that we should aim to celebrate Tihar in an eco-friendly way and respect nature as well as law of the land. Instead of bursting crackers, we can light diyo, decorate our house and surroundings with simple lights and spend time with friends and reading some good books as coincidently Lakshmi Pooja also marks the birthday of our great poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota and reading his magnum opus Shakuntala and other epics and essays would be a better option than spending time in gambling.

The author is a regular contributor to TRN