"Nepali Community Bhai Tika Last Day Of Diwali - With Full Nepali Cultural Way Market Is Mostly Closed Today" The Diwali festival of the Nepali community in the hills came to an end today with Bhai Tika, where the women from the community were seen showing their respect to their brothers in this age-old tradition. What sets this tradition apart from the rest of Bengal where Bhai Potā is also celebrated today is other traditions involved in it, like Bhailoni, which is held by the girls on Lakshmi Puja, where traditional Nepali songs are sung by girls from house to house, followed by Deosirey which is done by a group of boys from yesterday onwards. Today saw many male folk of the Nepali community here in their traditional dresses along with new clothes visiting their sister’s house, where after their brother’s puja is done a tika is put on their forehead to ensure their long life and thank them for the protection they give, while the brother presents her a gift or gives her money. The other customs seen in Bhai Tika are that while the brothers sit on the floor, the sisters perform their puja. The puja follows a traditional ritual in which sisters circle the brothers three times, dripping oil on the floor from a copper pitcher. After that, the sisters put a garland on the brother after pouring a mixture of rice grains and flower petals on him, after which the tika is put on him. The tika also has a special custom with the sister first applying a tika base made out of rice flour, followed by colors put on top of it using the base of her fingers. The brothers then place their head over their sister’s feet and receive their blessings. This is practiced regardless of whether the brother is younger or elder to the sister. This is followed by the breaking of walnuts by sisters before the brothers eat the sweet, milk, and egg that has been prepared for them. An elaborate cuisine is also set for the brother which starts only after the custom of the tika is finished. Till then, both the sister and the brother have to stay without food. On the other side, the shops in town will also close in the afternoon, as the seal of the things will be not, so they close their shop; only the Sweet Shop is seen open, which is also till 4 pm.