What to shoot on Tihar – Festival of Lights

The famous festival of lights on its way and there's so much to capture on this five-day-long festival. So what are the things that you can click on this auspicious and joyful festival?

Let's start with a little description of Tihar and we will talk more about what to shoot at this famous festival.

Tihar, also known as Dipawali is another important Hindu festival celebrated widely after Dashain. It is the festival where all the Nepalese houses and places in major cities are decorated with lights, colors, and flowers. Besides, it is the festival where we worship Goddess Laxmi, the god of wealth along with sacred animals and birds which includes Kaag (Crow or Raven), Kukur (Dog), Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth), Gai (Cow) and Bhai Tika where sisters worship Yamaraj (the god of death) for long life and prosperity of their brothers.

The joyful festival begins with Kaag Tihar. It is the day where we worship and praise the informant or messenger of Yama. People offer food to the crows early in the morning and wish that they don't bring any negative news to their doorstep.

pic: nepal24hours

So, what to shoot on the very first day of Tihar?

Since, it’s the day of Crow we recommend to click crow photos in different position. It might be the pictures of crow eating the offered food or about to eat the food or a simply crow.

pic: myrepublica.nagariknetwork

The second day of Yama Panchak is dedicated to the most loyal friend of entire human mankind, Dog. Kukur Tihar is celebrated all around Nepal by worshipping the Dog. This is the day where we praise their loyalty, bravery and unconditional love towards their master. Nepal is the only country in the entire world which has a separate day to celebrate the existence of human best friend.

So, what to shoot on this special day?

In this day, all the people who has dog on their homes worship their dog by offering their favorite food. Every dog on the streets get the special treatment in this special day. So, it's normal to see dogs with tika on their forehead and flower garland on their neck.

Just look for the dog, you will know what to shoot. If you don't here's the reference. 

pic: omgnepal

Aren't they cute enough to take your heart away?

If you want some special picture of dog, then we recommend you to visit Police headquarters. Well, you have to be photojournalist or you might need special pass to enter the premises. However, you will find some interesting scene there.

pic: echitwannepal

Well, we all know dogs has been very helpful fighting and finding criminals from a very long time. That might be the reason, all the dogs that has been serving the Nepal Police receive special treatment on this day. It's one of the exceptional moment that you hardly want to miss on your frame.

The third day of Tihar would be the worship of holy Cow and Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Cows are worshipped with sesame oil light, garland of flower and red color known as Abir in native tongue in the morning. While, Lakshmi Puja is celebrated in the evening.

On this day, people clean their houses, paint their floors with Red Mud (Rato Mato) along with Cow dung (Gobar). Some will make rangoli to welcome Goddess Lakshmi while some just make small circle with a swastika sign followed by a small footsteps that leads to Goddess Lakshmi. Likewise, people put candles, clay lamp and decorate their houses with flowers and lights in order to make the night bright and beautiful. On the other hand, children and youths goes to people house singing "Deusi" and "Bhailo" songs.

So, what to shoot on this very special day?

pic: myrepublica.nagariknetwork

Well, there's tons of things that you can focus on. You can start with the holy Cow which is taken as a mother in a Hindu religion. On this day, people try to pass in-between four legs of the cow. That would be an interesting subject right?

Apart from this, you can simply click the photos of people offering food and worshipping cow.

Pic: narendra shrestha photoblog.nbcnews

That's not the end, there's lot to cover on this day. For instance, you can click the photos of people cleaning their houses and decorating their homes.

Besides, there's rangoli too.

Pic: marinavaptzarova

You can also take the close up of the rangoli.

Pic: marinavaptzarova

Don't forget to click Diyo, the essence of Tihar.

Pic: Rojan Shrestha via Neptos

Like we said above, most of the houses are decorated with flowers and lights. Clicking the pictures of decorated houses won't harm you much.

Pic: Ellen Bhattarai via Neptos

On the other hand, there's group of people singing of "Deusi" and "Bhailo".

Pic: Ellen Bhattarai via Neptos

You can’t ignore the delicious Sell roti on this day, can you?

Pic: omgnepal

To end the day, you can click the pictures of your own home where we have worshipped Goddess Lakshmi.

The fourth day of Tihar is Goru Tihar or Govardhan Parbat ko Puja and Mah (aatma or self) Puja.

Pic: Spotlightnepal

On this day, we worship Oxen by offering food and putting tika on their forehead. Whereas, we praise Govardhan by making a hill of govardhan parbat using only cow dung. Besides, there's Mah Puja, it is quite famous with Newar community in Nepal.

It is celebrated in the evening, where people make mandap and perform the self-puja in order to purify our body. Each member of the family has their own Mandap whereas a female member of the family offer sagun that consist of fried eggs, fruits, sweets and meat.

Pic: nepalsanctuarytreks

On the other hand, this day is very important for Newar community as it is the beginning of Nepal Sambat, Newari New Year. Newar people on this day perform rally on the streets to celebrate their New Year.

Pic: hiveminer

The last day of Yama-Panchak would be the Bhai Tika. This is the day, where sister worship the god of death and wish for long life of their brothers. This is the day where we can see the true love and bonding of brothers and sisters. Both sisters and brothers exchange Tika of five colors (Yellow, Green, Red, Blue and White) on their forehead.

So, what to shoot on the very final day of Tihar?

It would be great, if you can capture some real emotions of brothers and sisters on this day.

Pic: guidodingemans

Besides, you can click the picture of sweets and chocolates which is also famous as Bhai Masala in the Nepalese Market.

pic: thehimalayantimes

Tihar is quite incomplete without flowers.

Pic: thekathmandupost

Well, we have covered almost everything about Tihar and what to shoot on this five day long festival. Apart from above examples, here are the few creative shots that you might want to try on this Tihar.

Pic: Sunil Deula via Neptos

Tihar is quite incomplete without firecrackers.

Pic: thelitbuzz

When it comes to light and night scene, nothing can beat the beautiful view of Ranipokhari during Tihar. Sadly, it's on reconstruction process and we have to wait for this view until the reconstruction process is complete.

Well, that's it for Tihar. Wish you all happy and safe Tihar.