Nepal festival of lights

Tihar, the festival of lights, is one of the biggest Hindu events in Nepal.

Every year, Krishna Tamang, 71, and Muktinath Regmi, 82, make their way around a neighborhood in Kathmandu singing "deusi" and "bhailo" songs for the festival.

Although the songs are typically sung at night, Tamang and Regmi set out early in the day because they are too old to walk in the dark. They carry a madal, a traditional Nepali percussion instrument, and a Taa and Newari, other traditional instruments. People love their singing and dancing and often donate a bit of money to seek their blessings.

Tamang has lost most of his vision, but Regmi helps him walk through the neighborhood. They may be old but they have mastered their art of singing. At times there is a bit of misunderstanding and some arguments as both are hard of hearing. But they are good friends.

Tihar celebrations are usually dominated by the young, and Tamang and Regmi say singing takes them back to their childhood.

At the end of their rounds, they return to the old age home where they live with 240 other elderly people, stopping on the way to give some of their donations to a blind woman begging for alms. They count their money with shaky hands and divide it between themselves.

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Nepal Festival of Lights

71-year-old Krishna Tamang, left, holds on to his friend Muktinath Regmi, 81, as they walk to perform traditional Deusi songs celebrating Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Each year, Regmi and Tamang roam the neighborhoods of Kathmandu singing songs of blessings and receiving money in return. Once a group of four friends from Pashupati Briddhashram, a home for the old, only the two of them are now alive and they carry forward the tradition. Tamang lost most of his vision when he was six months old and Regmi acts as his eyes for most parts. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepal Festival of Lights

71-year-old Krishna Tamang, left, and Muktinath Regmi, 81, take a nap at the Pashupati Briddhashram, a home for the old, after returning from performing traditional Deusi songs in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Each year, Tamang and Regmi roam the neighborhoods of Kathmandu singing songs of blessings celebrating Tihar festival and receiving money in return. Once a group of four friends from the home, only the two of them are now alive and they carry forward the tradition. Tamang lost most of his vision when he was six months old and Regmi acts as his eyes for most parts. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepal Festival of Lights

71-year-old Krishna Tamang, left, smokes a cigarette as he rests in between performing traditional Deusi songs celebrating Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Each year, Tamang and his friend Muktinath Regmi, 81, roam the neighborhoods of Kathmandu singing songs of blessings and receiving money in return. Once a group of four friends from Pashupati Briddhashram, a home for the old, only the two of them are now alive and they carry forward the tradition. Tamang lost most of his vision when he was six months old and Regmi acts as his eyes for most parts. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepal Festival of Lights

Muktinath Regmi, 81, receives money from a boy, with 71-year-old Krishna Tamang playing a traditional percussion instrument in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Each year, Regmi and Tamang roam the neighborhoods of Kathmandu traditional Deusi songs and receiving money in return. Once a group of four friends from Pashupati Briddhashram, a home for the old, only the two of them are now alive and they carry forward the tradition. Tamang lost most of his vision when he was six months old and Regmi acts as his eyes for most parts. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepal Festival of Lights

Muktinath Regmi, 81, holds a traditional instrument as he rests while taking a tour around a neighborhood in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Each year, Regmi and 71-year-old Krishna Tamang roam the neighborhoods of Kathmandu singing traditional Deusi songs celebrating Tihar festival and receiving money in return. Once a group of four friends from Pashupati Briddhashram, a home for the old, only the two of them are now alive and they carry forward the tradition. Tamang lost most of his vision when he was six months old and Regmi acts as his eyes for most parts. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepal Festival of Lights

Muktinath Regmi, 81, counts money at the Pashupati Briddhashram, a home for the old, after returning from performing traditional Deusi songs in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Each year, Regmi and his 71-year-old friend Krishna Tamang roam the neighborhoods of Kathmandu singing songs of blessings celebrating Tihar festival and receiving money in return. Once a group of four friends from the home, only the two of them are now alive and they carry forward the tradition. Tamang lost most of his vision when he was six months old and Regmi acts as his eyes for most parts. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepal Festival of Lights

71-year-old Krishna Tamang, left, and Muktinath Regmi, 81, pose for a photograph at the Pashupati Briddhashram, a home for the old, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Each year, Tamang and Regmi roam the neighborhoods of Kathmandu singing traditional Deusi songs celebrating Tihar festival and receiving money in return. Once a group of four friends from the home, only the two of them are now alive and they carry forward the tradition. Tamang lost most of his vision when he was six months old and Regmi acts as his eyes for most parts. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepal Festival of Lights

81-year-old Muktinath Regmi, right, and Krishna Tamang, 71, perform traditional Deusi songs in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Each year, Regmi and Tamang roam the neighborhoods of Kathmandu singing songs of blessings and receiving money in return. Once a group of four friends from Pashupati Briddhashram, a home for the old, only the two of them are now alive and they carry forward the tradition. Tamang lost most of his vision when he was six months old and Regmi acts as his eyes for most parts. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

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Text from the AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Elderly Hindus fete festival of lights in Nepal

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