Right now a big festival is going on here in Kathmandu called Tihar. It’s the fun festival—the one where people, after the sacrifices of Dashain, can celebrate the good things in their lives, the world, and the future. Tihar lasts 5 days: kag puja, kukur puja, gaya puja/Laxmi puja, mha puja/Newari New Year, and Bhai Tika. Kag puja is a worship for crows, because crows are messengers that bring news. Kag puja is celebrated so that crows will only bring good news in the coming year. The next day, kukur puja, is for dogs, because dogs are loyal and hardworking and helpful to people. The next day, Gaya puja, is for cows, because cows are sacred animals with the essence of holiness. Gaya puja is also Laxmi puja, a day to worship Laxmi, the goddess of
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