Sisters holding bowls
Sisters holding bowls
Betrawati 2000
These two sisters have traveled to Betrawati to be with their relatives during Tihar. In many ways, Tihar is like Thanksgiving in that distant family comes together, transportation (buses) is over-capacity, and much eating takes place. The bowls that the sisters are holding were made by stitching together large leaves.
During Nepal's Tihar festival women give the men in their lives a tika in a special ceremony. After the tika is given, they are given a tray or bowl filled with fried breads, fruits, nuts, and candies. After this, the men usually present the woman with a sari or, in the case of a child, a kurta.
A tika is a blessing in the form of a colored dot or smudge applied to the forehead. Most usually red, during Tihar one may collect tikas of several different colors.
A kurta is the traditional dress for girls. Often made from the same light fabric, it is two pieces: a pair of pants and a long-sleeved v-neck shirt, which hangs down to near the knees. Often a scarf is worn with it, looping down in front like a necklace with the long ends hanging back over each shoulder.
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