Animals, light, and bonds take center stage during Tihar festival, which is celebrated over five days in late October and early November in Nepal. This holiday, also known as Nepal’s version of Diwali, Celebrating something different every day: Crow, dog, cow, brother and sister. The second day of the year is Monday, October 20, which is dedicated to Kukur Tihar, when dogs are blessed with garlands, colored markings on their foreheads, and food offerings. More than just an act, this ritual expresses gratitude for the animals that share our lives, and its roots lie in the ancient legends of the dog community. Sacred places in Hindu cosmology.
The story behind this devotion goes back to the epic tale of the Mahabharata, featuring the hero Yudhishthira. He refuses to enter heaven without his dog by his side.Meanwhile, that same dog turns out to be an incarnation of Yama, the god of death. In modern-day Nepal, the backdrop of this myth has been transferred to the squares of Kathmandu, where residents celebrate the fact that dogs not only take care of their homes, but also symbolically transport souls to the afterlife.
However, this ritualistic worship coexists with real tensions in daily life, such as fear of rabies, a glut of stray dogs, and episodes of abuse, reminding us that beyond the flower festival, the daily condition of many Nepalese dogs remains fragile.
Why a dog?
On days dedicated to dogs, including legally owned indoor dogs and stray dogs, rituals are performed in an emotional way full of symbolism. The family wakes up early and decorates the dog’s body. “Tilaka”put a wreath of marigold flowers in a mixture of red powder, yogurt and rice (Tagetes erecta) around the neck. They are provided with a special diet of meat, milk, and eggs, and treated as if they were honored guests of the home or town, including ritual baths, cleaning of their feet, and in some cases a bow expressed by resting their forehead on a dog’s paw as a sign of respect.
The reason for this recognition lies in the Nepali Hindu tradition that assigns roles to dogs. Guardian of death and the underworldwhere they are considered to be the messengers of Yama and the guardians of the door to the afterlife. “We celebrate Kukur Tihar to satisfy Yama,” Gokarna Khanal priest told The Times, alluding to the fact that worshiping dogs helps the soul pass safely after the body dies.
At the organizational level, the Nepal Police also participated in the ceremony, and the police dog unit also took part in a parade during the festival, showering dogs with garlands and recognizing their rescue and security efforts.
Nepalese dogs: realities, challenges and rituals
In Nepal, the duality between the ritualistic exaltation of the day and the daily life of dogs is striking. It is estimated that there are over 19,000 stray dogs in Kathmandu.Approximately 90% of them have received rabies vaccinations, and approximately 10,000 will undergo sterilization throughout the year. But rabies remains a real threat in the region between India and Tibet, where stray dog bites are estimated to kill more than 100 people a year, putting pressure on authorities to control urban dog populations.
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