KATHMANDU: President Ramchandra Paudel has extended his best wishes on the occasion of Tihar, expressing hope that the festival will further inspire harmony, tolerance, fraternity, good governance, and prosperity among Nepalis.

In a message issued today to all Nepali brothers and sisters living in the country and abroad, President Paudel conveyed his wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity, and continued progress.

“Nepal is a country rich in its unique and indigenous culture. The diverse festivals we celebrate have long served to unite our diversity. Among them, Tihar holds a special place as one of the great Hindu festivals. It has made efforts to bind people of different castes, languages, and cultures into a thread of unity,” the President’s message stated.

Highlighting the festival’s cultural, mythological, practical, psychological, and scientific importance, President Paudel described Tihar as a festival of light and illumination.

He expressed hope that the cultural practices manifested during Tihar would spread light in human life and inspire everyone to remain committed to truth, justice, and social good governance.

Tihar, also known as Yamapanchak, includes the worship and honoring of crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and Mount Govardhan.

On Laxmi Puja, devotees worship the goddess of wealth, Goddess Laxmi.The festival culminates with Bhai Tika, when brothers and sisters exchange blessings, apply tika, and celebrate the bond of affection with joy and goodwill.

President Paudel also noted that traditions such as Mha Puja (self-purification) and Bhai Tika convey messages of love and compassion, social unity and prosperity, righteousness and kindness, and the triumph of light over darkness.