Introduction
Tihar (तिहार) — Nepal’s festival of lights — is the second biggest Nepali celebration after Dashain. Spanning five days in October/November, each day has its own rituals, deities, and food traditions. In 2026, Tihar falls across late October into early November.
For Nepali families in the UK, Tihar is a deeply cherished time — lighting diyas, making sel roti, sharing sweets with neighbours, and sitting down to a proper Nepali feast. This guide covers everything you need to know about Tihar food traditions and how to prepare them authentically at home in the UK.
The Five Days of Tihar and Their Food Traditions
Day 1: Kaag Tihar (Crow Day)
The first day honours crows — messengers of the god of death, Yama. Food offerings are placed outside for crows early in the morning before the family eats. Traditional offerings include rice, bread, and sweet items.
Food tradition: Offer food to crows before the household eats. The family meal is a normal Nepali dal bhat.
Day 2: Kukur Tihar (Dog Day)
Dogs are worshipped and garlanded with marigolds, anointed with tika, and fed special food. It is a joyful day — the dogs of the neighbourhood receive more attention and better food than usual.
Food tradition: Feed dogs meat, egg, milk, and treats. The household also begins sel roti preparation for the days ahead.
Day 3: Gai/Laxmi Tihar (Cow Day / Laxmi Puja)
The most important day of Tihar. Cows are worshipped in the morning. In the evening, the goddess Lakshmi — goddess of wealth and prosperity — is invited into the home. Diyas are lit in every window and doorway to guide her path. Sweets and food offerings are central to the celebration.
Food tradition: This is the evening of sweets, sel roti, and celebration. Full food guide below.
Day 4: Govardhan Puja / Mha Puja (Self-Worship)
Mha Puja is a uniquely Newari tradition — a ritual of self-worship and self-renewal performed on the Newari New Year. It involves an elaborate ritual food arrangement on a mandala plate.
Food tradition: Ritual foods arranged on a mandala — rice, bara (lentil cake), egg, meat, fish, and fermented drinks (chhyang) for Newari families.
Day 5: Bhai Tika (Brother-Sister Day)
The final and most emotionally significant day of Tihar. Sisters apply a seven-coloured tika to their brothers’ foreheads, symbolising protection and long life. The ceremony is accompanied by an elaborate spread of food, sweets, and gifts.
Food tradition: The Bhai Tika plate and feast — full guide below.
Laxmi Puja Evening: The Full Food Guide
Laxmi Puja night is the most important food occasion of Tihar. The house is lit with diyas, and a feast is prepared to welcome the goddess of wealth.
Sel Roti
Freshly made sel roti is the centrepiece of Tihar food. Ideally made on Day 3 morning so it is fresh for the evening celebration and the next two days.
Ingredients: Fine rice flour, sugar, ghee, cardamom, banana (optional), warm water
See our full Sel Roti recipe guide for the complete method.
Halwa (Semolina Pudding)
Rich, golden semolina pudding made with ghee, sugar, cardamom, and raisins. Halwa is offered to Lakshmi and shared with family and guests throughout the evening.
Halwa Recipe (serves 6)
- 200g semolina (suji)
- 150g sugar
- 4 tbsp ghee
- 600ml warm water or milk
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 2 tbsp cashews
- Heat ghee in a heavy pan. Add semolina and fry on medium heat, stirring constantly, for 8–10 minutes until golden and fragrant.
- Add warm water or milk carefully (it will splutter). Stir immediately to prevent lumps.
- Add sugar, cardamom, and raisins. Cook, stirring, for 5–7 minutes until thick and the ghee separates at the edges.
- Finish with cashews. Serve warm.
Kheer (Rice Pudding)
Creamy rice pudding made from basmati rice slow-cooked in full-fat milk with sugar, cardamom, and saffron. Kheer is both a puja offering and a dessert — made in large batches and eaten over several days of celebration.
Kheer Recipe (serves 6)
- 100g basmati rice, rinsed
- 1.5 litres full-fat milk
- 100g sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- A few strands of saffron (optional)
- 2 tbsp pistachios or almonds, sliced
- Bring milk to a boil in a heavy pan. Add rice. Simmer on low heat, stirring frequently, for 40–45 minutes until rice is fully cooked and milk has thickened significantly.
- Add sugar, cardamom, and saffron. Cook for a further 10 minutes.
- Serve warm or cold, garnished with sliced nuts.
Indian Mithai (Sweets)
Alongside homemade sweets, store-bought Indian mithai — barfi, ladoo, gulab jamun, and jalebi — are bought to share with guests and give as gifts. Buy a selection and arrange on a plate for guests arriving on Laxmi Puja night.
Bhai Tika Feast: The Complete Food Guide
Bhai Tika is a ceremony first, feast second. The ceremonial plate (thaal) is arranged with precision before the tika ritual, and the feast follows.
The Bhai Tika Thaal (Ceremonial Plate)
- Sel roti — freshly made or from the previous days
- Fruits — banana, orange, apple, grapes
- Nuts — cashews, walnuts, almonds
- Sweets — barfi, ladoo, or homemade halwa
- Chiura (beaten rice)
- Dried fruits — raisins, dates
- Tika items — vermillion, rice, yoghurt, flowers
The Bhai Tika Feast
After the ceremony, a full Nepali meal is served. Traditional Bhai Tika feast dishes include:
- Khasi Ko Masu — Nepali goat curry; the most celebratory meat dish for major occasions
- Chicken curry — for families who prefer chicken
- Dal Bhat — always present as the foundation
- Aloo Tarkari — spiced potato dish
- Saag — leafy greens with mustard oil and garlic
- Tomato Achar — freshly made with timur
- Sel Roti — served throughout the meal
- Kheer or halwa — for dessert
Tihar Grocery Shopping List for UK Families
For Sel Roti
- Fine rice flour (500g–1kg)
- Sugar, ghee, cardamom
For Halwa and Kheer
- Semolina (suji) — 200g
- Basmati rice — 100g
- Full-fat milk — 2 litres
- Ghee — 250ml
- Cardamom powder, saffron
- Raisins, cashews, pistachios
For the Feast
- Goat or chicken
- Dal (musuro, moong)
- Basmati rice (5kg)
- Potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger
- Timur — for achar
- Mustard oil, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala
- Fresh coriander and green chillies
Sweets and Gifting
- Indian mithai — barfi, ladoo, gulab jamun
- Dried fruits and nuts for thaal and gifting
- Chiura — for thaal and snacking
Order Your Tihar Groceries Online in the UK
Key Tihar ingredients — fine rice flour, timur, ghee, chiura, and mustard oil — are not reliably available in UK supermarkets. MasalaMart delivers authentic Nepali and South Asian groceries across the UK.
Order early — Tihar falls in late October/early November 2026 and delivery times can be longer during festival season. We recommend ordering at least one week before the festival.
Free delivery on orders over £50. Use code FESTIVAL10 for 10% off orders over £50.
Shop at masalamart.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Tihar 2026?
Tihar 2026 falls across late October and early November. Laxmi Puja (Day 3) and Bhai Tika (Day 5) are the most celebrated days. Check the Nepali calendar for exact dates as they vary by year according to the lunar calendar.
Can I make sel roti in advance for Tihar?
Yes — sel roti keeps well for 3–5 days at room temperature in an airtight container. Many families make a large batch on Day 2 or 3 and eat it throughout the festival.
What sweets are traditional for Tihar?
Sel roti is the most distinctly Nepali Tihar sweet. Halwa, kheer, and Indian mithai (barfi, ladoo, gulab jamun) are also traditional. Sweets are both eaten at home and gifted to neighbours and family.