Kaag Tihar

Crow Tihar (Kaag Tihar) 2026 is on Saturday, 7 November 2026 (Kartik 21, 2083 BS). It is the first day of Tihar. Nepalis feed crows in the morning because Hindu belief calls the crow a messenger of Yama, the god of death. The offering is a small prayer: bring only good news and keep grief away from the family.

Kaag Tihar in Short

What is Crow Tihar?

Crow Tihar

Crow Tihar is the first day of Tihar, Nepal’s five-day Festival of Lights. Kaag is the Nepali word for crow. On this morning, families put food and water outside for crows, usually on the roof, balcony or courtyard.

It is a small and quiet ritual. There are no big crowds or fireworks yet. The bright lamps, Lakshmi Puja and Bhai Tika come later. Crow Tihar simply opens the festival with a kind gesture towards a bird that many people ignore the rest of the year.

Tihar is also called Yama Panchak, which means “the five days of Yama”. The crow, the dog and the cow are honoured on the first three days because each is tied to Yama in Hindu stories.

When is Crow Tihar in 2026?

Crow festival date in 2026, Sunday 7, November 2026

Crow Tihar 2026 is on Saturday, 7 November 2026, which is Kartik 21, 2083 BS. The Kathmandu panchang shows Krishna Trayodashi at sunrise that day, and the Nepal festival calendar for 2083 also lists Kaag Tihar on 7 November.

The date changes every year because Tihar follows the moon, not the sun. The rule is simple: Kaag Tihar is held in the morning of Trayodashi, the 13th day of the waning moon in the month of Kartik. When two lunar days overlap, Nepal’s calendar committee makes the final call. In a past year, its chairman explained that the festival must fall on the morning of Trayodashi, and the date was set on that basis.

For comparison, Crow Tihar in 2025 was on Sunday, 19 October. Here is how the full festival runs this year:

See the full schedule in our Tihar 2026 guide.

Why are crows worshipped in Tihar?

In short, people believe the crow carries messages between our world and Yama’s world. If you treat the messenger kindly, it will carry good news. That is why families feed crows at the start of Tihar.

Here are the main ideas behind the tradition, in plain words.

1. The crow is Yama’s messenger

The crow is Yama’s messenger

In Hindu belief, Yama is the god of death and justice. He is said to learn about people through the crow. Nepali news reports on the festival describe the same idea: sweet food is given to the crow to make it happy, so that it brings good news to Yama.

Think of it like being polite to the postman. You want the news that arrives at your door to be good.

2. Keeping grief and bad news away

By feeding crows, people hope to calm them and avoid death and sorrow in the coming year. The prayer is not about the bird itself. It is a wish for the family to stay safe and healthy.

3. The crow connects us with ancestors

Crows also appear in rituals for the dead. In Shraddha ceremonies, rice and sweets are offered to crows, and people believe that the food reaches departed souls when a crow eats it. This is one reason the crow is seen as a bridge between the living and the ancestors.

4. A lesson in sharing

Hamro Patro shares an old Sanskrit verse about the crow. In simple terms, it says that when a crow finds food, it calls other crows to eat with it, unlike many humans. The meaning given for Kaag Tihar is a reminder to share what we have. It is a good thought to carry into a festival of giving and gratitude.

5. Respect for all living things

Tihar is one of the few festivals in the world that gives thanks to animals one by one. The crow, the dog, the cow, and the ox each get a day. Crow Tihar teaches that even a common, noisy bird deserves respect.

The story behind it: Yamuna and Yama

Story Behind Crow Tihar

The best-known legend explains why the first days of Tihar belong to animals. In the story, Yamuna wanted her brother Yama to visit her. As told in this account of Yamapanchak, she sent a crow on the first day, a dog on the second and a cow on the third to call him. Yama did not come.

So on the fifth day, Yamuna went to Yama’s home herself. She worshipped her brother and blessed him with a long and good life. Sisters follow her example on Bhai Tika, the last day of Tihar.

That is why the crow comes first. It is the very first messenger in the story.

How is crow puja done in Tihar?

Steps to do Crow Puja in Tihar

There is no strict rule, and every family does it a little differently. The basic steps are the same almost everywhere:

1. Get up early. Do it in the morning, ideally before anyone in the house eats.
2. Prepare the food. Fresh, simple dishes work best. Many families use whatever they cooked for the festival.
3. Serve it on a clean plate. A traditional leaf plate (tapari) is popular. Place it on the roof, balcony, courtyard, or a clean spot outside.
4. Add a little respect. Some people light incense, add a flower, or call out softly to invite the crows.
5. Make a wish. Pray for good news, health, and safety in the year ahead.
6. Let the crows eat in peace. If crows come and eat, many people take it as a good sign.

As a Nepali blogger describes it, the food goes out in the morning before the family eats. In the same account, a family living abroad, where crows were rare, even printed a crow’s photo and did the puja in front of it. The meaning matters more than the method.

What do you offer to crows on Kaag Tihar?

Tip: Use a leaf or clean steel plate, skip plastic, and tidy up afterwards so the roof and street stay clean.

What does “Shuva bol” mean?

Shuva bol means “say something good” or “bring good news”. Nepali families say it when a crow caws near the house or on the roof, as reported by Online Khabar. It is a gentle way of talking back to the messenger: if you have news for us, let it be good. Some sources add that hearing a crow call before sunrise on Kaag Tihar is a lucky sign for the household.

Where can you see crow worship in Nepal?

Most of Crow Tihar happens at home, so the best way to see it is to be in a Nepali neighbourhood early in the morning. For a more formal ceremony, special crow worship is held at the Kageshwari Mahadev Temple in Kageshwari Manohara and at the Kageshwari temple in Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu.

There is also a folk belief that people in Nepal avoid harming crows because of an old legend about a crow that drank the water of life. Treat that as a story passed down by word of mouth, not as an official rule.

How is Tihar different from Diwali?

Both festivals have lamps and Lakshmi Puja. Tihar goes further by giving whole days to animals: crows on day one, dogs on day two, cows on day three, and oxen on day four. It also ends with Bhai Tika, when sisters bless their brothers. That mix of lights, animals and family is what makes Tihar special to Nepal.

Tips for travellers: seeing Crow Tihar in 2026

Tihar falls in November, which is the best time to trek in Nepal. The skies are clear and the monsoon is over. You can enjoy both the festival and the mountains.

• Start the day early. Rooftop offerings happen in the morning, so a sunrise walk through Kathmandu, Patan or Bhaktapur is the best way to see them.
• Be polite with photos. Ask before photographing a family at prayer.
• Expect closures. Offices, schools and many shops close for Tihar, so book hotels, buses and flights early.
• Combine culture and adventure. Join a day tour around Kathmandu, or plan a trek such as the Everest Base Camp Trek or the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

Conclusion

Crow Tihar is a small ritual with a big idea: treat everyone, even the messenger of death, with kindness. This year it falls on Saturday, 7 November 2026. If you are in Nepal, wake up early, watch a rooftop offering and hear the first call of the festival. Plan your visit with the Nepal Hiking Team and enjoy Tihar the way Nepalis do.