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Bhai Tika being celebrated today; 11:35 am-11:47 am most auspicious time for tika

As the culmination of the five-day Tihar festival, Bhai Tika, the last day of `Yama Panchak,' is being celebrated on Sunday.

According to Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti – a group of leading astrologers - the most auspicious time for receiving Bhai Tika is between 11:35 am to 11: 47 am (NST), Sunday.

The Samiti has said that people can receive Bhai Tika from 11 am till 2 pm. In fact, chairman of the Samiti, Dr. Madhav Bhattarai has said that it is alright to receive Bhai Tika throughout the day, Sunday. The Samiti is a committee of leading astrologers who give out auspicious timings based on Nepalese calendar on religious and cultural occasions.

Sisters worship Yamaraj – the God of Death - on this day praying for long life, good health and well being of their brothers, put tika on the forehead, garlands around their neck and offer sweet and other traditional dishes on the occasion. Similarly, brothers also put garlands and tika to their sisters, offer money and pray for their long and happy life.

Brothers sit on a floor while sisters perform their pooja. Pooja involves following a traditional ritual in which sisters circle brothers three times dripping oil on the floor from a copper pitcher. Afterwards, sisters put oil in brother's ears and hairs, and then give Tika. Breaking of walnuts by sisters prior to giving Tika to brothers is also a common practice.

People who do not have brother or sister visit temple of Mahadev in Ranipokhari Pond, which remains locked up all round the year except on the day of Bhai Tika, to receive tika there.

Meanwhile, King Gyanendra received Bhaitika from Shobha Shahi. He went to Shahi's residence in Kamaladi at the auspicious hour.

While Maoist leaders Prachanda and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai did not celebrate Bhaitika, general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal received tika from his two sisters. Maoist leaders have been boycotting Dashain and Tihar festivals saying they are part of old cultural traditions. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala did not receive Bhaitika this year because his sister-in-law had passed away. nepalnews.com sd Nov 11 07