UnitedTihar — Laxmi Puja
लक्ष्मी पूजा
About
Why this matters in the US
Tihar travels well to diaspora households. Unlike Dashain — which is fundamentally about family hierarchy and elder visits — Tihar's central rituals are about the home itself: lighting the house, decorating the entryway, welcoming Laxmi over the threshold. A US household can do all of this without compromise. String lights stand in for diyos for fire-code reasons, but the lit doorway, the rangoli, and the marigold garland are within reach in any metro with a South Asian grocer.
How it's observed
- Day 1
Crow day
Offerings of food are placed for crows — traditionally seen as messengers of Yama. In a diaspora home, a small plate of rice and seeds on the balcony or in the backyard.
- Day 2
Dog day
The household dog receives a flower garland, a red mark on the forehead, and a special meal. The day has become a global favorite — dog photos from Nepal flood timelines every Tihar.
- Day 3
Cow day & Laxmi Puja
The centerpiece evening. The cow is honored in the morning; the home is lit at dusk; Laxmi prayer is performed inside. The path from threshold to shrine is marked with lamps and rangoli to guide Laxmi in.
- Day 4
Ox day & Newar new year
Ox honored for farm labor. Newar families observe a self-puja on this day that marks the Nepal Sambat new year — distinct from the Bikram Sambat year.
- Day 5
Sibling day (Bhai Tika)
The sister-brother day. See the dedicated Bhai Tika page for the full treatment.
What's on the table
The canonical dishes — and where US Nepalese source the ingredients.
Sel roti (सेल रोटी)
Sweet rice doughnut — the Tihar bread, present across all five days.
Sesame sweet patty (anarsa) (अनर्सा)
Sesame-coated sweet rice patty — a Tihar specialty, especially in Newar households.
Mithai (sweets assortment) (मिठाई)
Assorted sweets are shared during Laxmi Puja visits and Bhai Tika preparations.
Steamed sweet dumpling (yomari) (यःमरि)
Newar sweet dumpling — central to Mha Puja on Day 4.
Fruit
Bananas, apples, pomegranates — offered on the Laxmi shrine and distributed as prasad.
Beaten rice & roasted soybeans (खाजा)
Light dry snacks served alongside the sweets and feast.
Events for this festival
Upcoming
Guides for this festival
Browse all guides
Organizing a Tihar — Laxmi Puja event?
Post it on UnitedSewa so the diaspora can find it — community gatherings, religious observances, family programs, cultural performances. Two-minute form.
Sources & last verified
We publish a festival date only after checking it against the panchang and these sources.
- drikpanchang + collegenp official + publicholidays.asia (Nov 8; some blogs say Nov 9)
