Kaag Tihar marks beginning of five-day Tihar festival across Nepal

Kathmandu, November 7, 2026 — Kaag Tihar, the festival dedicated to worshipping crows, is being observed across Nepal on Saturday, marking the beginning of the five-day Tihar festival, also known as Yamapanchak.

On this occasion, people offer food, sweets and other delicacies to crows, particularly in the early morning. According to Hindu religious beliefs, crows are regarded as messengers of Yamaraj, the god associated with death and justice. Worshipping and feeding them is traditionally believed to bring auspicious messages and protect families from sorrow and misfortune.

Kaag Tihar falls on Trayodashi, the 13th day of the waning lunar fortnight in the month of Kartik. Chairperson of the Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee, Dr Purushottam Bhattarai, told the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) that the festival was scheduled for Saturday in accordance with religious scriptures, which prescribe observing Kaag Tihar on the morning of Trayodashi.

Special worship ceremonies are being held at Kageshwori Mahadev Temple in Ward 1 of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality, as well as at Kageshwori Temple in Hanumandhoka, Kathmandu.

Crows hold a distinctive place in Nepali religious and cultural traditions. Their calls are traditionally associated with messages or news, and many households offer them food before beginning their own meals on Kaag Tihar. The practice reflects a cultural tradition of acknowledging the relationship between humans, birds and the natural world.