The festival of Kag Tihar, celebrated on the thirteenth day of the waning moon (Kartik Krishna Trayodashi) every year, is being observed across Nepal today by offering delicious food to crows, who are regarded as the messengers of Yamaraj, the god of death.
According to Professor Shambhu Prasad Dhakal, Chairman of the Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Samiti, Kag Tihar must be celebrated on the day when Trayodashi falls during sunrise. Therefore, as per scriptural tradition, the festival is being observed today, Sunday morning.
Significance of Kag Tihar
In Hindu belief, crows are considered the messengers of Yamaraj, who receive information from the human world through them. It is believed that feeding and worshipping crows on this day keeps sorrow and misfortune away from the household. People offer rice, bread, sweets and other food items to crows, praying for good news and prosperity.
There is also a popular belief that if a crow caws near the house, it brings some form of important message.
Religious Tradition
The scriptures mention “काकेन दधि भक्षितम्”, meaning crows are fond of curd and rice (dahi-bhat). Hence, offering this to crows today is believed to please them, so they carry good messages to Yamaraj on behalf of the family.
Special worship is performed today at the Kageshwari Mahadev Temple in Kageshwari Manohara-1 and the Kageshwari Temple at Hanumandhoka in Kathmandu, where a large statue of a crow is established.
Beginning of Yamapanchak
The festival of Kag Tihar also marks the beginning of Yamapanchak, the five-day festival leading up to Bhai Tika. The tradition of Yamadeepdaan—lighting oil lamps in the name of deceased ancestors and placing them facing south—began last evening. It is believed that Yamadeepdaan frees souls from the suffering of Yamlok.
Due to the variation in lunar dates (tithi) this year, Yamapanchak began on Saturday evening. Similarly, Dhanteras, the festival of wealth, was also celebrated yesterday by buying gold, silver and copper utensils, which is believed to invite Goddess Lakshmi into the home.
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