The origin of Tihar is based on a story. It is said that a certain king had been told by his astrologer that a serpent would come and take his life away. Not wanting to die the king asked the astrologer, if there was any way to escape death. The king was advised to sleep with lit oil lamps all around his bed and decorate the palace with oil lamps on Laxmi Puja day, and request the goddess to persuade the serpent; not to take the King’s life. The worship bore results and  the serpent was convinced by goddess Laxmi. The serpent took the king to Yama Raj – lord of death and told him that it was not yet the king’s time to come to the underworld. When the serpent checked Yama Raj’s “Death ledger”, he found that the kings remaining life was written as zero. The serpent cleverly put seven before zero. Thus the king lived for seventy more years.

The first day of Tihar is known as ‘Kag tihar’, crows day. Crow is believed to be Yam Raj’s massenger. On Kag Tihar crows are offered food on a plate made out of leaves in the morning before anyone in the house takes in food.

The second day is called ‘Kukur tihar’, dogs day. A dog plays many roles in our society. We have dogs in our houses as guardian of the house. As the legend also says that there is a dog at Yama Raj’s gate guarding the gate to the underworld. The dog is also the steed of the fearful Bhairab - the god of destruction. On Kukar Tihar the dog is worshiped - a big red tika is put on a dog’s forehead and a garland around the neck. After worshipping the dog, it is given very delicious meal. On Kukar Tihar the saying ‘every dog has his day’ comes true; for even a stray dog is looked upon with respect. Dogs are worshiped to request to guard our house as he guards the gate of the underworld and to divert destruction away from our homes.

The third day is the most important day of the festival. It is called ‘Laxmi puja’, The day when Hindus worship the goddess of wealth. On this day, early in the morning the cow is worshipped. Tika is put on her head and a garland around her neck then she is feasted on delicious food. The cow also symbolizes wealth and is considered the most holy animal by the Hindus. In the evening goddess Laxmi is worshipped. Days before the house are cleansed and decorated. For the goddess likes clean and tidy places. In the evening a small potion of the house out side the main door is painted red with red mud and an oil lamp is lit on it. A pathway is made from here to the place where the old money box and valuables are kept in the house that is the puja room. (All the Nepalese have a box where from generation to generation money is put every year worshipping goddess laxmi. This money is never used unless in an extreme emergency). The entire house is decorated with lit oil lamps in every doors and windows. Laxmi, goddess of wealth is worshipped performing the traditional rituals and when the rituals are over then gambling in the house starts. On this day throughout the evening groups of girls come to houses singing song of praise of the goddess and they are taken as guests and given gifts.

The fourth day is bit different. Today the things people worship depend on their specific cultural background. Normally most of the people perform ‘Goru puja’, - worship of the ox.. The ox is worshipped with tika, garland and then a delicious meal is fed to it. On the other hand people who follow Lord Krishna perform ‘Gobhardan puja’. These people build a small pile made out of cow-dung and put some grass on it. This is worshiped. This puja symbolizes the act of lord Krishna when he is said to have lifted the gobhardan hill and saved millions of people and cows from floodwater.

The Newar community, performs ‘Mha puja’ which literally means “worshipping yourself”. People are thus worshipping life by doing puja on themselves. On this very day the Newar New Year also starts.

The last day of Tihar is ‘Bhai tika’, when ladies apply the Tika on their brothers The main theme behind bhai tika is the sisters praying for their brother’s long life from Yama Raj, god of the underworld.

In Oct the mustard crop and potatoes are planted.

In Nov the paddy and Kodo millet is harvested

Dec – Jan

This is the cold spell with generally clear weather and blue skies with occasional periods of foggy conditions due to snow in the higher regions

In December, X-mas is celebrated by the Lepcha Christian community with the usual rituals and festivities to celebrate the birth day of Lord Jesus.

In December, Lepcha New Year called Namsong is celebrated by thr Lepchas in Dec. It is a day of prayers, feasting, archery competitions and more

In Dec , Potatoes, spinach and some other vegetables are planted

During Dec –Jan People go out on picnics, and outings.

It is also time to collect the firewood for the year

Feb – March

Winter still lingers on. Usually the weather is clear but visibility remains a bit hazy due to dust from the plains. Snow fall in the higher regions brings cold spells in its wake. There are occasional short spells of rain and hail in Feb- Mar

Spring flowers start blooming. Evergreen forests get new leaves. There is bird song in the air

Water springs start drying up and there is an acute shortage of water.

In Feb the Buddhist New year called Losar is celebrated by Buddhist Lepchas and Bhutias with prayers, song and dance and feasting

In Feb the mustard and potatoe crop is harvested

In March Maize & Ginger crop is planted

Apr- May

In April the pre -monsoon weather prevails. Thundershower occur in the evenings with spectacular display of lightning across the sky accompanied by furious thunder, heralding the arrival of summer

In Apr the weeding of Maize and ginger crop takes place

May has warm days, followed by short bursts of rain the evenings

Preparations for planting paddy start in May, with ploughing and planting of seedlings. Paddy fields are rebuilt by refilling soil and repairing water dykes and channels. The farmers and oxen toil hard in the hot sun and pray for timely rain