10:51AM auspicious hour for Bhai Tika; Balgopaleshwor temple to remain open

Kathmandu / Nov 14: The last day of the five-day-long festival, Tihar, which is known as Bhai Tika, is tomorrow. The National Calendar Determination Committee has said the auspicious hour for offering Tika this year is 10:51AM. However, the Tika can be offered throughout the day, the Committee added.

The Balgopaleshwor Temple in Ranipokhari, Kathmandu will also be opened tomorrow. The temple is opened every year on this day.

On the day of Bhai Tika, sisters offer colorful tika to their brothers, wishing them happiness, prosperity and longevity. In return, brothers provide gifts to the sisters and wish them good luck.

Similarly, on this occasion, those who have no brothers or sisters of their own receive Tika from others whom they regard as brothers and sisters.

Govardhan Puja today

The fourth day of Tihar is being celebrated today by worshipping Govardhan Parbat. The ox is also worshipped and provided with delicious food today.

Today, people prepare a mixture of cow dung and ochre formed into paste and apply on the house yard and floors and make a replica of the Govardhan Mountain from cow dung and worship it.

Theologian Prof Dr Devmani Bhattarai said the ritual of worshipping Govardhan Puja was established in memory of protecting the people of a place, Gokul, by Lord Krishna from torrential rains by lifting Govardhan mountain by his hand. It is believed that the god of rain, Indra, was angered and there by caused heavy downpour.

Similarly, ox is also worshipped as the vehicle of Lord Shiva today.