Kathmandu. Narak Chaturdashi, an important day of Yamapanchak under Tihar, is celebrated as a festival of special importance from the religious, spiritual and philosophical point of view. On this day, there is a religious tradition of bathing, tarpan, and donating Yamdeep.
In Sanatan Hindu philosophy, it is believed that according to the deeds done by a person, heaven or hell will be attained after death. There is a religious belief that a person who does good deeds goes to heaven and the person who does bad deeds should suffer the suffering of hell. Narak Chaturdashi is taken as a day to remind us of this belief.
According to religious beliefs, one can reach heaven only after crossing the Baitarani river. In the Sanatan philosophy, which connects heaven and hell with each other, the existence and importance of heaven without hell has also been explained philosophically. Narak Chaturdashi is believed to inspire people to think about their karma and its consequences.
On this day, it is customary to go to the river, lake or other reservoir in the morning and take a bath and tarpan. The tradition of bathing by applying sesame oil on the body is called Narke bath. After bathing in the cold weather of the month of Kartik, it is also customary to burn sesame shrimp and heat it.
Similarly, on the day of Narak Chaturdashi, there is a religious tradition of lighting a Yam lamp facing south and throwing the lamp in a river or reservoir.
There is a religious belief that by lighting a lamp in this way, one does not have to suffer the torture of hell after death. This act of lighting the lamp is called the burning of hell.
Narak Chaturdashi is not only a festival limited to religious rituals and traditions, but is also considered as a festival with a philosophical message that motivates people to do good deeds, stay away from wrong deeds, and move forward on the right path. This festival gives the message that one should make life meaningful through good deeds and be responsible for one’s actions.
Shaligram Dhakal, assistant professor at Nepal Sanskrit University, said that Narak Chaturdashi has religious, spiritual and cultural significance.
According to him, there is a religious tradition of bathing at moonrise on the day of Narak Chaturdashi. He said that since the moon rises before the sun on Chaturdashi, it is customary to bathe in the morning at moonrise and worship at the pilgrimage site.
Dhakal said that there is also a special significance of lighting a lamp along with bathing on Narak Chaturdashi. According to religious beliefs, the tradition of Deepdan has started with the aim that while traveling on Yammarg, one does not have to face darkness and the light of the lamp illuminates the path.
He said that the bathing and lighting of Narak Chaturdashi should also be understood from a spiritual point of view. He said that this festival will give the message that just as the light of a lamp spreads light in the darkness, in the same way, the light of knowledge can guide in the life of a person.
He said that on the day of Narak Chaturdashi, there is a tradition of bathing in the Ganges and pilgrimage places during the cold season, lighting lamps and worshiping the pilgrimage. However, he said that religious rituals and worship can be done according to the suit of the person.
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