Do you love dogs? If you do, Nepal might just become your favorite place. In Nepal, along with the famous Diwali festival, there’s a special time set aside just for dogs. For five days, the people of Nepal show their gratitude to dogs for being our best and most loyal friends.
Dogs have been by our side for centuries, offering friendship and loyalty. They’ve shown time and again that they are truly special. To honor them, the people of Nepal celebrate a festival called Kukur Tihar, or Kukur Puja, dedicated entirely to showing respect to dogs.
On the second day of this festival, dogs are worshipped. People offer them food, place garlands around their necks, and mark their foreheads with a red powder called ‘tika.’ This tradition symbolizes that animals, especially dogs, are sacred and deserve to be honored.
The most beautiful part? It’s not just pet dogs that are celebrated. Stray dogs are also cherished and respected during this time.
The purpose of this festival runs deep in Hindu beliefs. Hindus think that by honoring dogs, they can appease Yama, the Hindu God of Death, because dogs are considered his messengers.
There’s even a story in the Mahabharata, an ancient epic, where the King of righteousness, Yudhishthira, refused to enter Heaven without his faithful dog. This tale is one reason why Hindus believe that dogs should be worshipped.
