Kathmandu - Nepalese rubbed vermillion on the foreheads of cows Wednesday and placed garlands of marigolds around their necks as part of the five-day Tihar festival, which shows reverence for animals.
Tihar - which comes weeks after Dashain, another festival often criticized for its tradition of animal sacrifices - also gives dogs and crows their day.
The festival began Tuesday with the worshipping of crows and dogs, which are considered the messengers of Yamaraj, the god of death, by Hindus.
'We believe that by offering food to crows, we can thwart tragedies because the bird symbolizes grief,' said Anjali Balami, who was busy selling marigold garlands that people also use to decorate their homes during Tihar.
'Dogs accompany their masters to heaven, so we worship dogs,' Balami said.
People left sweetmeats for crows on the rooftops of their homes and placed garlands on dogs, decorated them with red and fed them treats Tuesday.
Cows were worshipped Wednesday in a similar fashion as a symbol of sustenance for the milk they provide while the animal also represents Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Tihar falls every year in the month of October, marked by the waning moon. The festival also has days devoted to bulls and brothers. Homes are decorated with flowers and lit by candles and oil lamps during the festival.
'Bulls represent the Govardhan mountain, which sheltered the people of Mathura in the Hindu epic of Mahabharata,' Ajay Shrestha said while doing a brisk business selling clothes for the festival. 'In that sense, we worship bulls as the protectors.'
Also known as the festival of flowers and lights, Tihar is closely connected to braving death and the celebration of life as the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley also marks its New Year.
Markets are brightly lit with electric lights and lined with colourful streamers. Coloured powder, candles, fruits, and garlands of marigold, globe amaranth and chrysanthemum are for sale everywhere.
For some, the festival is a time for Deusi-bhailo, a tradition of singing festive songs door-to-door and receiving gifts of money and sweets in return.
'Playing the Deusi is the highlight of Tihar, so we choreographed it together,' said Prakriti Thapaliya, who led a group of her teenage friends dressed in traditional Nepalese attire.
Sanjeeb Gautam, who runs a gift shop, said he sold 5,000 garlands in two days as he beamed over the profit he makes during Tihar.
'Tihar has been passed down to us from our forefathers, and even though the festival feels quite different from how it did during my childhood, it's still a great time to have fun,' Gautam said.
