Another great and important festival celebrated by the followers of the Vedic Sanatan Hindu religion is Tihar or Yamapanchak. The first important day of this festival is called Kaag Tihar, this day commences the five days of celebration.
The five-day Tihar festival celebrated from Kartik Krishna Triodashi to Kartik Shulka Dwitiya, begins with Kaag Tihar. Kaag Tihar falls on the day of Kartik Krishna Triodashi. This year Triyodashi and Chaturdashi fell on the same day causing Kaag Tihar, Kukur Tihar, and Narak Chaturdashi on the same day. Kaag means crow, in the Crow Festival, the crow is worshiped as the messenger of Yamaraj, also known as a god of death. On the day of the crow festival, it is customary to worship the crow with respect and give food. Nepali society perceives crow as a message-carrying creature, isn't it?
According to the scriptures, Yamaraj, the lord of hell and death, records the births and deaths of all living beings on earth, including humans. It is believed that the crow brings and takes such details. Yamaraj had appointed Crow as his envoy as he would bring a quick message from the sky. But in the Crow Festival, the crow is worshiped forgetting all these negative beliefs.
In Kagtihar, crows are called to the yard and given homemade food. Today, Dhanvantari Day is also celebrated in the memory of Dhanvantari sage, the pioneer of Ayurveda, who originated the moment of Samundra Manthan on the day of Kagtihar. There is another religious belief that donating Yamadip today will free from Yamaraj's torture. There is a religious ritual to face south when donating Yamadip.
Yama, the god of death, had not seen his sister Yamuna for a long time. The Yamuna was very eager to meet her brother and invited him to visit her through various means. There is a story that she met a crow and a dog, a cow, and finally her brother Yama. After meeting her brother, she worshiped him with Tika and flowers and put a colorful Tika on his forehead.
She draws a line around her brother with mustard oil and puts a garland of velvet flowers and dubo on it. In the same order, on the fifth day of Yamapanchaka, the festival ends.
In the hilly districts of far western Nepal, the Crow Festival is celebrated in a slightly different way. In the local language of the far west, this festival called Narahari is celebrated as Maghe Sankranti i.e. Puse Tihar, it is customary to feed the crows selroti and other sweets during this day. Every year in mid-December, the first selroti is given to the crow.
On the other hand, now the enthusiastic people in the village have started preparing for the festival of Deunsi or Bhailo, where to play, who to play and what songs or dances to perform, etc. Good luck to all. Bring good news, best wishes.
Kukur Tihar 
Today is the day when these dogs are worshiped. Human society and dogs have a strong and old relationship, today that coexistence is worshiped. Today, not only pets but also street dogs are given food by wearing garlands and Tika. Welcome to the Kukur Tihar of this year.
Today, it is believed that a person who eats without feeding a dog is punished by Yamaraj. Therefore, it is customary to get up early in the morning and perform daily rituals and take a bath to worship the dog.
Vedic importance of dogs
In every ancient discovery of human civilization, human society has been known as a loyal and courageous creature who has never been far away. Today is the day dedicated to dogs. In Vedic Sanatan Dharma, dogs are given special importance. Dogs have been very close to human beings since human civilization.
The Rig Veda mentions 'Samara', Samara, the mother of dogs, who helped King Indra of heaven find his lost object. According to the Vedic Sanatan Hindu tradition, the dog is considered as the guardian, security guard, and envoy of Yamaraj and it is said that the dog guards the gate of salvation till death.
Even in the Mahabharata, it is mentioned that the truthful Yudhisthira refused to go to heaven without his devotee dog. The dog is considered a conceptual example of religion and a representative of the path of righteousness. The vehicle of the fearless Tantrasadhak Bhagwan Bhairav is also a dog.
Human behavior is like a mirror, we are treated as a reflection of the way we behave. Every animal on this earth needs our love and virtue, and perhaps this is what the Yamapanchak period of the festival must have tried to give us. Science has also shown that the existence of every living thing as an ecosystem is related to each other.
Happy Kukur Tihar
Narak Chaturdashi
Welcome to Narak Chaturdashi, one of the days of Yamapanchak this year. I think this Chaturdashi is very philosophical and logical, let's start with things.
What is the Narak or hell?
After all, heaven and hell are the things that always come in the eternal beliefs after birth and death. There is a popular belief that if you do good deeds, you will go to heaven and if you do bad deeds, you will go to hell. This belief is found not only in Sanatan Darshan but in almost every religion and belief. Hell is not someone's choice because it is believed that there will be many sufferings and pains in hell or Narak.
It is believed that one can reach heaven/ Swarga only by crossing the river Vaitarani. Narak Chaturdashi is the only date that describes the presence of hell and to some extent the importance of hell too. Heaven without hell doesn't matter, Narak Chartudashi has made this point for everyone to consider.
This Chartudashi also advocates for every person to follow the path of good deeds so as not to go to hell. On this day, it is customary to take a bath after applying sesame oil. It is said to take a bath in a reservoir or nearby river. After bathing in this mild winter of Kartik, it is customary to burn sesame seeds and feel the warmth. While bathing, one should be prepared to do good deeds and walk in the path of religion so that one does not go to hell. In other words, hell and heaven are on earth, so that Narak Chartudashi can guide everyone to the path of karma with the truth.
Suyog Dhakal
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