Exciting Preparations for a Beautiful Tihar

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Now that Dashain is over, it’s time for Tihar, the Newari version of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. At Ama Ghar everyone pitches in to clean and then create Laxmi’s path, so that the goddess Laxmi can come to our home and bring us luck for the New Year.

Once everything is squeaky clean, the fun begins… designing the beautiful path for the goddess, into the main house and into Bonnie Auntie’s bungalow as well.

The older girls get everyone started by drawing the designs in chalk
This mandala and the fantastic peacock at Bonnie’s bungalow are the result.
Above, Saraswoti puts wicks into the oil lamps that will light Laxmi’s path, and then we pick marigolds from our garden to make malls for the ceremony.