Bhai Tika, the final day of the Yamapanchak or Tihar festival, is being celebrated across Nepal today, Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Sisters offer tika to their brothers, wishing them long life, good health, and prosperity.The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Vikas Samiti, a government body under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, has determined 11:07 AM as the most auspicious time for the Bhai Tika ceremony. However, the tika can be offered throughout the day, according to Purushottam Bhattarai, chairperson of the committee. State officials are advised to observe the auspicious time.This year, sisters offering tika should face east, and brothers receiving it should face west. This alignment ensures that the moon, which enters the Scorpio zodiac sign this morning, is to the right. According to religious scholar Professor Dr. Ramchandra Gautam, the same direction can be followed even when the moon is in the Libra zodiac sign, as it is considered auspicious to have the moon in front or to the right during propitious activities.Bhai Tika is the second-largest festival for Nepalis and is also known as Yamadwitiya. During the ceremony, sisters worship the lamp, kalash (a pot), and Ganesh established on Lakshmi Puja. They then worship Ashtachiranjeevi (eight immortals) and other deities, including Chitragupta, Yamaraj, Yamuna, and Dharmaraj, on an Ashtadal (eight-petaled lotus) drawn on a main plate.Sisters apply a five-color or seven-color tika to their brothers, traditionally after creating a barrier with a stream of oil. They also present garlands made of flowers such as globe amaranth, marigold, and chrysanthemum. While a seven-color tika is widely used during Tihar, religious scholar Gautam states that the classical tradition prescribes five colors: red, white, yellow, green, and blue.After receiving the tika, brothers are offered various delicacies, including walnuts, chestnuts, spices, and selroti (a traditional Nepali bread). Brothers, in turn, honor their sisters with clothes and dakshina (donations) as symbols of good fortune, according to religious and social customs.The Meteorological Forecasting Division announced on November 9, 2026, that light rainfall is possible in some mountainous and hilly regions of the country on Bhai Tika. However, significant rainfall is not expected, said Madhavi Sigdel, a meteorologist at the division. Dr. Binod Pokharel, an associate professor at the Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Tribhuvan University, also noted the possibility of light rain, stating on Facebook that a weak Westerly disturbance could bring light rain to more areas in the eastern half of Nepal.Due to an Adhik Maas (intercalary month) in 2083 BS (May 17 to June 15, 2026), Bhai Tika is being celebrated approximately 19 days later this year compared to previous years.For Nepalis residing abroad, the International Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti has also published auspicious times for Bhai Tika. In Delhi, India, the auspicious time is 11:21 AM on November 11, and in Thimphu, Bhutan, it is 11:05 AM on November 11. Bhai Tika will be celebrated on November 10 in various cities across the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom and other European countries. In Australia and New Zealand, it will be observed on November 11.Nepal Police have heightened security nationwide for the Tihar, Deepawali, Nepal Sambat, and Chhath festivals. Under the ‘Festival-focused Special Security Plan, 2083,’ police personnel have been deployed, and surveillance has been increased in sensitive areas after analyzing potential security challenges, said Abinarayan Kafle, central spokesperson for Nepal Police, on November 7, 2026.
Background
- Bhai Tika is celebrated annually on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya.
