On the second day of Nepal’s Tihar festival, dogs were celebrated with flower garlands and treats in a ritual to please the Hindu god of death.
On Thursday, Nepal celebrated its annual Kukur Puja festival, where dogs throughout the country were adorned with marigold garlands, marked with vibrant vermillion pigment, and treated to generous platters of snacks.
Similar to India’s Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of Tihar, taking place this week in Nepal, is a festival of lights. However, unlike Diwali, Tihar honors various animals, with Kukur Puja specifically dedicated to dogs on its second day.
According to Hindu mythology, dogs are the messengers of Yamaraj, the god of death. His two four-eyed dogs are believed to guide the dying souls and safeguard their journey to the afterlife. Honoring dogs is thought to please Yamaraj.
All dogs—pets, strays, and working canines—are celebrated. At the Armed Police Force canine center in Kathmandu, service dogs stood proudly alongside their handlers. One by one, police officers applied vermillion to the dogs’ foreheads, adorned them with flowers, and offered them treats in a ritual acknowledgment of their contributions to public safety. “Today, we honor these dogs for their invaluable contributions as they tirelessly assist us in maintaining safety, whether it’s detecting explosives or rescuing individuals during emergencies,” stated Ram Narayan KC, deputy branch chief of the canine division. Following the ceremony, the service dogs showcased their training and talents by jumping through flaming hoops, standing on their hind legs, and retrieving balls.
Tihar spans five days of lighting oil lamps and celebrating animals associated with the god of death, including humans.
The festival begins with a day dedicated to crows, where offerings of grains, seeds, and sweets are scattered on rooftops and streets.
On the third day, Nepali Hindus honor cows with treats, vermillion, and flower garlands, while the fourth day celebrates oxen.
The final day of Tihar commemorates the special bond between brothers and sisters, who exchange gifts and express love, respect, and devotion in memory of the story of the goddess Yamuna.
When her brother passed away, Yamuna beseeched the god of death to delay taking him until the vermillion on his forehead had faded and the flower garlands had withered, performing an elaborate ritual to prolong their final moments together.