Mahottari. The second biggest festival of Nepalis, Tihar, is starting from today.

In the ancient Mithila region including Mahottari of Madhes, there is a tradition of celebrating Dhanteras on the first day of this festival in the evening. This festival, which is celebrated for five days from the Trayodashi date of Kartik Krishna Paksha to the second day of Kartik Shukla Paksha of the lunar month, has become six days this time due to the increase in dates.

In the Mithila tradition, on the Trayodashi date of Kartik Krishna Pakchya in the evening, it is customary to worship by buying new metal utensils or jewelry at home. Mahesh Kumar Jha, an expert on Maithil rituals, said that Dhanteras is celebrated as Trayodashi falls before noon.

In the Mithila region, it is customary to perform the day, constellation, date, festival, tithi shraddha and good deeds on the basis of Mithila Panchang and Vidyapati Panchang.

On the first day of the Diwali festival, which is colloquially called Diwali in the Mithila region, it is a Maithil tradition to celebrate Dhanteras by buying metal jewelry and utensils to please Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and establishing Lakshmi in the house. The festival is started by lighting lamps in every house. It is customary to buy new metal items (utensils and jewelry), kharto, coriander, and other items on the day of Dhanteras.

Quoting the Panchang, Pandit Jha clarified that the Trayodashi Tithi starts at 11:10 am today and will continue till 10:47 am on Saturday. Kag Puja and Dhanvantari Jayanti are scheduled to be performed on the same day as Trayodashi.

The festival of Diwali will be celebrated on the next Wednesday as per the Maithil tradition. Panchang Sunday will perform dog worship on Chaturdashi date and Lakshmi Puja will be performed in the evening on the same day.