19/10/2025
Kag Tihar (काग तिहार) is the first day of the five-day Tihar festival in Nepal, a celebration similar to Diwali in India. It is dedicated to honoring and worshiping crows.
Significance and traditions
Messenger of death: Crows are believed to be the messengers of Yamaraj, the Hindu god of death. The cawing of crows is often associated with grief and mourning.
Warding off misfortune: By appeasing the crows on this day, devotees hope to ward off death and grief for the coming year. They also believe it will bring them good fortune.
Offering of food: On Kag Tihar, people offer various foods like grains, seeds, sweets, and rice to crows. They place the offerings on rooftops or in open spaces, believing it is a way to respect the creatures and please Yamaraj.
Protection from negative energies: Feeding the crows is also thought to protect homes from negative energy and bad omens.
Yama Panchak: Kag Tihar marks the beginning of Yama Panchak, or the "five days of Yama," a period of the festival when people honor and give thanks to various animals that are considered to be related to the god of death.
