The saying dogs are man’s best friend stands for a reason. These four-legged companions are very friendly, love us unconditionally and are not really demanding. Also, it’s in their nature to be loyal and appreciate our presence. However, people in Nepal have taken their love for the furry animals to another level. They even have a special Nepal festival day for dog worshipping.
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Millions of Hindus celebrate the festival of lights “Diwali” every year in the fall. The festival is primarily celebrated in Nepal, but also in some parts of India and even by Hindus of Bhutan.
Tihar is a Hindu festival that lasts five days, but the second day is reserved for worshiping our loyal companions. It is called Kukur Tihar or Kukur Puja meaning worship of the dogs.
During the Tihar celebration, people feed the dogs with delicious food, give them with flower garlands, and even mark them with “tika” on their foreheads.
The red powder mark means that the dog is a sacred being. Seeing dogs honored in this way is very heart-warming.
You may think that the celebration involves only pet dogs, but that is not true. All dogs even strays receive the same treatment as well.
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It’s believed that dogs are messengers Yama, the Hindu god of death, and this celebration is a way to satisfy the god.
Moreover, dogs are also mentioned in the Hindu text Mahabharata, in which Yudhishthira, the king of righteousness, refused to enter heaven without his loyal best friend.
However, it’s not just Nepali and Indian people who celebrate the Day of the Dogs. Many people around the world also honor their furry friends by posting cute photos on social media.
