Yama Panchak begins today, to last six Days this year – The Himalayan Times – Nepal’s No.1 English Daily Newspaper

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 18

The festival of lights and flowers, Yama Panchak-also known as Tihar in Nepali and Deepawali in the Mithila region-began today. Traditionally observed for five days, the festival will span six days this year due to overlapping lunar dates.

According to the Mithila tradition, the festival begins with Dhanteras and concludes on Bhaiyadooj, which falls on Thursday. As per the lunar calendar, Yama Panchak generally runs from Kartik Krishna Trayodashi to Kartik Shukla Dwitiya. However, this year’s lunar alignment has extended the celebration by a day.

In Mithila, festival dates are set according to the Mithila Panchanga and Bidhyapati Panchanga. The Trayodashi tithi begins at 1:12 p.m. today and continues until 1:56 p.m. tomorrow. Hence, Dhanteras is being celebrated this evening after dusk, while Kaag Puja (crow worship) will be performed by Sunday midday.

The main celebration of Laxmi Puja will take place on Monday evening, followed by Gau Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhaiyadooj in the subsequent days.

Due to the shifting lunar calendar, similar extensions were seen earlier during Navarattri, making the festival a day longer than usual. Yama Panchak-marking devotion, family bonding, and light’s triumph over darkness-continues to be celebrated with great enthusiasm across Nepal.