Tihar | Deusi | Nepali Tradition | Tihar celebration at Mungpoo

Tihar is the second biggest Nepali festival after Dashain. The festival is novel in that it shows reverence to not just elders and gods, but also to animals such as crows, dogs, and cows that have long lived in relationship with humans. People make feet patterns of Laxmi on the floor of living rooms or courtyards using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals outside their house, which is meant to be a sacred welcoming area for the Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism, mainly Goddess Laxmi.
On the fourth day of Tihar, there are three different kinds of pujas, depending on the people's cultural background. Mainly ox is worshipped on this day by giving it good food. It is observed as Goru Tihar or Goru Puja (worship of the ox). People who follow Vaishnavism perform Govardhan Puja, which is worship of Govardhan mountain. Cow dung is taken as a representative of the mountain and is worshipped. The majority of the Newar community perform Mha Puja (worship of self) on the night of this day. This day is the beginning of the new Nepal Sambat calendar year. Children and teenagers perform Deusi Bhailo on this day by visiting the houses in their locality. It is a joyous time of celebration and is a representation of the communal Nepali culture.