Each year in Nepal, people celebrate Kukur Tihar, or the Festival of Dogs, a special day dedicated to honoring and worshipping dogs, highlighting the deep bond between humans and their animal companions.
A animal lover worships a dog during Kukur Tihar, the day dedicated to worshipping dogs as part of the Tihar festival of lights, at Sneha’s Care animal sanctuary. (Photo by Skanda Gautam/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
This festival, which was celebrated on Oct. 31 this year, is part of the five-day Hindu celebration of Tihar, also known as Deepawali or Yamapanchak, which is mainly observed in Nepal and some eastern parts of India.
Nepal police officer applies vermilion and flower garlands to a Police dog during a dog worship day that is celebrated as part of the Tihar festival. (Photo by Prabin Ranabhat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via
During the festival, people honor dogs for their loyalty and companionship.
A volunteer worships dogs as part of offerings for Tihar, which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care center in Kathmandu on October 31, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
A service dog of Nepal Police is worshipped with flowers, vermillion powder, and delicacies during the Kukur Tihar procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 31, 2024. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)
They place flower garlands around the dogs' necks and mark them with a red tilak or tika –a red mark –as a sign of respect and welcome.
People worship dogs during the Dog Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 31, 2024. Dog Worship Day is part of the Tihar Festival. (Photo by Ambir Tolang/NurPhoto)
Dogs are also treated to special meals, which may include milk, meat, eggs and traditional sweets.
offerings for Tihar, which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care center in Kathmandu on October 31, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
The day also includes performing puja, a worship ritual, for the dogs, with families gathering to pray for the dogs’ well-being and thank them for their loyalty.
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In addition, both adults and children participate in a number of activities, such as lighting traditional oil lamps and making rangoli designs, a traditional Indian art form.
A Nepalese police dog handler with his dog displays training skills during a dog worship day that is celebrated as part of the Tihar festival. (Photo by Prabin Ranabhat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Tihar is the second most popular festival in Nepal.
Each day of Tihar is dedicated to honoring different animals and deities.The festival begins with a day for crows.
Dogs are celebrated on the second day on Kukur Tihar and is followed by days honoring cows and oxen.
A service dog of Nepal Police is worshipped with flowers, vermillion powder, and delicacies during the Kukur Tihar procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 31, 2024. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)
The last day of the festival is dedicated to celebrating the special bond shared between brothers and sisters.
A service dog of Nepal Police is worshipped with flowers, vermillion powder, and delicacies during the Kukur Tihar procession in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 31, 2024. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)
One reason Kukur Tihar is celebrated is that dogs are seen as messengers of Yama or Yamaraj, the Hindu god of death, who judges and leads the souls of the deceased to their afterlife based on their actions in life or Karma, according to Hindu religion.
A animal lover smears a dog with vermilion during Kukur Tihar, the day dedicated to worshipping dogs as part of the Tihar festival of lights, at Sneha’s Care animal sanctuary. Sneha’s Care animal sanctuary, is home to over 150 dogs and other animals in Lalitpur. In Hinduism, dogs are believed to be messengers of Yama, the god of death, and guardians of Heaven’s gates. (Photo by Skanda Gautam/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Hindus in Nepal believe that treating dogs well on this day pleases Yama and brings blessings from him.
They believe that honoring dogs allows them to have a more positive perspective on death, as dogs are believed to accompany them during their final journey.
A dog tries to eat dog food at Animal Nepal, an animal care center in Nepal during the Kukkur Tihar festival. Animal Nepal, an animal care center, celebrated Tihar, a five-day Hindu festival in Nepal. (Photo by Bivas Shrestha/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
It is also considered a grave sin if anyone disrespects or mistreats dogs on this day.
A dog is seen with vermilion and a garland around its neck during the Kukkur Tihar festival. Animal Nepal, an animal care center, celebrated Tihar, a five-day Hindu festival in Nepal. (Photo by Bivas Shrestha/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Kukur Tihar is also seen as a way to celebrate the bond between humans and dogs as it is believed that dogs were first domesticated in Nepal and the east Asian country of Mongolia.
A Hindu devotee carries her dog after worshipping as part of the Tihar festival, which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kathmandu on October 31, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
All the dogs, including pets, stray dogs, and police dogs are celebrated equally on this day.
Dogs adorned with marigold garlands for 'Tihar', local name of Diwali in Nepal, the Hindu festival of lights, are pictured at a dog care center in Kathmandu on October 31, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
The spirit of Kukur Tihar has inspired similar celebrations beyond Nepal. Countries like Mexico have adopted this tradition, celebrating their dogs with parades and rituals reminiscent of Kukur Tihar.
People apply colorful powder and flowers on their dogs during the Kukur Tihar Dog Festival as part of Nepalese Tihar celebrations in Mexico City, Mexico on October 30, 2016. (Photo by Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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