Kukur Tihar

{{Infobox holiday

| holiday_name = Kukur Tihar

| image = Kukur Tihar.jpg

| caption = Dog bedecked with flower garlands

| nickname = Festival of Dogs

| date2020 = 14 November 2020[https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/kukur-tihar-laxmi-puja-being-observed-today-amid-covid-19-pandemic/ "Kukur Tihar, Laxmi Puja being observed today amid COVID-19 pandemic"]. The Himalayan Times, 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020

| date2021 = 3 November 2021{{Cite web|title=२०७८ सालको तिहारपर्व सँग सम्वन्धित दिन तथा साईतहरू|url=https://npns.gov.np/notice/H0jhE7tuJpaSLIh6|url-status=dead|access-date=1 November 2021|website=Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samitee|language=ne|archive-date=1 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101164818/https://npns.gov.np/notice/H0jhE7tuJpaSLIh6}}

| duration = 1 day

| observances = Prayers and religious rituals

| celebrations = Honouring dogs

| type = Hindu

| frequency = Annual

| longtype = Religious

| official_name = {{Native name|ne|कुकुर तिहार|paren=no}}

| date = Kārtika māsa kṛṣṇa pakṣa chaturdashi tithi

| date2023 = 31st October 2024

| imagesize = 200px

}}

Kukur Tihar (also called Narak Chaturdashi, {{langx|ne|कुकुर तिहार}}) is an annual Hindu festival originating from Nepal which falls on the second day of the festival of Tihar (around October or November). The second day of Tihar, called Kukur Tihar, is dedicated to the worship of dogs. On this day, people worship dogs to please Yama, the god of death, as they are considered to be his messengers. Dogs are decorated with tilaka and wear flower garlands around their necks. Worshippers offer them various foods including meat, milk, eggs, and dog food. It is considered a sin if someone acts disrespectfully to a dog on this day.

Kukur Tihar is also celebrated worldwide by the Nepalese diaspora.

Background

File:Rakta Bhairava.jpg accompanied by dog called Shvan.]]

Tihar is a five-day-long Hindu festival originating from Nepal; it is the second-largest festival in the country, after Dashain.{{Cite web|date=9 November 2020|title=Market in border area bustling|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/market-in-border-area-bustling/|access-date=10 November 2020|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Prasain|first=Krishana|date=21 October 2020|title=Nepal's biggest festival Dashain fails to lift the market mood, buyers and sellers say|url=https://kathmandupost.com/money/2020/10/21/nepal-s-biggest-festival-dashain-fails-to-lift-the-market-mood-buyers-and-sellers-say|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110145828/https://kathmandupost.com/money/2020/10/21/nepal-s-biggest-festival-dashain-fails-to-lift-the-market-mood-buyers-and-sellers-say|archive-date=10 November 2020|access-date=10 November 2020|website=The Kathmandu Post|language=English}} Kukur Tihar is celebrated on the second day of Tihar.{{Cite journal|last1=Devleesschauwer|first1=Brecht|display-authors=etal|date=12 February 2016|title=Epidemiology, Impact and Control of Rabies in Nepal: A Systematic Review|journal=PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases|language=en|volume=10|issue=2|pages=e0004461|doi=10.1371/journal.pntd.0004461|issn=1935-2735|pmc=4752342|pmid=26871689 |doi-access=free }} During the festival of Tihar, many animals including cows and crows are also worshipped.{{Cite web|last=Kelly|first=Erin|date=5 October 2015|title=In Nepal, Every Dog Has Its Day. Literally.|url=https://allthatsinteresting.com/dog-festival-nepal|access-date=27 October 2020|website=All That's Interesting|language=en-US|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027204224/https://allthatsinteresting.com/dog-festival-nepal|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Devkota|first=Mahima|date=3 November 2021|title=Why do we worship crows and dogs?|url=https://risingnepaldaily.com/society/why-do-we-worship-crows-and-dogs|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103111123/https://risingnepaldaily.com/society/why-do-we-worship-crows-and-dogs|archive-date=3 November 2021|access-date=21 November 2021|website=The Rising Nepal|language=en}}

In the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, the five Pandavas on their way to heaven are accompanied by a dog.{{Cite web|last=Shahani|first=Shradha|date=22 October 2019|title=In Nepal, Diwali is a time to worship the dogs|url=https://www.cntraveller.in/story/nepal-diwali-time-worship-dogs/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027174746/https://www.cntraveller.in/story/nepal-diwali-time-worship-dogs/|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Condé Nast Traveller|language=en-IN}} The five Pandavas with their wife Draupadi and brothers climb the Himalayas; all of them except Yudhishthira and his dog perishing along the way.{{Cite news|last=Vajpeyi|first=Ananya|date=29 June 2019|title=Epic lessons for Kali Yuga: Rereading the 'Mahabharata' in our contemporary moment|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/epic-lessons-for-kali-yuga-rereading-the-mahabharata-in-our-contemporary-moment/article28196232.ece|access-date=27 October 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027180533/https://www.thehindu.com/books/epic-lessons-for-kali-yuga-rereading-the-mahabharata-in-our-contemporary-moment/article28196232.ece|url-status=live}} Then Yudhishthira meets Indra, King of the gods, who welcomes him to heaven but tells him he has to leave his dog behind.{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Sudeshna|date=8 April 2020|title=Interested in the Mahabharata? Know how the Pandavas died|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/religion/article/interested-in-the-mahabharata-know-how-the-pandavas-died/575675|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027175827/https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/religion/article/interested-in-the-mahabharata-know-how-the-pandavas-died/575675|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Times Now|language=en}} Yudhishthira refuses to enter heaven without his dog and says he will go back to earth.{{Cite web|last=Das|first=Gitanjali|date=6 September 2020|title=Explained: After Modi's push, a look at the several dog breeds native to India|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-after-pm-modis-push-the-many-dog-breeds-native-to-india-6577820/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027175734/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-after-pm-modis-push-the-many-dog-breeds-native-to-india-6577820/|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=7 November 2018|title=Day of the Dog: A day before Diwali, Nepal celebrates 'dog puja festival' with fervour – See pics|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/tihar-dog-puja-festival-nepal-kukur-tihar-bhairava-dashain-yamraj-naraka-chaturdashi-bhoot-chaturdashi-yudhishthira-mahabharata/310584|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027192823/https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/tihar-dog-puja-festival-nepal-kukur-tihar-bhairava-dashain-yamraj-naraka-chaturdashi-bhoot-chaturdashi-yudhishthira-mahabharata/310584|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Times Now|language=en}} The dog disappears and it is replaced by Yama, the god of death; Indra is impressed by his actions and then his righteousness opens the gates of heaven for Yudhishthira.

In Hindu mythology, Yama has two dogs—Shyama and Sharvara—who guard the door of hell.{{Cite web|date=10 November 2015|title=Dogs worshipped on Kukur Tihar|url=https://kathmandupost.com/miscellaneous/2015/11/10/dogs-worshipped-on-kukur-tihar|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027202913/https://kathmandupost.com/miscellaneous/2015/11/10/dogs-worshipped-on-kukur-tihar|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=The Kathmandu Post|language=English}} Nepali Hindus believe that by worshipping dogs they start to see death positively, because a dog follows them in their final journey.{{Cite book|last1=Marak|first1=Queenbala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HmnTDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Kukur+Tihar%22&pg=PT272|title=The Cultural Heritage of Meghalaya|last2=Chaudhuri|first2=Sarit K.|date=28 February 2020|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-000-07182-5|language=en|access-date=28 October 2020|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028142919/https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=HmnTDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT272|url-status=live}} They hope that dogs will guard them against the torture in hell. Dogs are considered to be a companion of Yama and to please him, dogs are worshipped.{{Cite news|date=6 November 2018|title=Nepal festival celebrates 'day of the dogs'|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-46111525|url-status=live|access-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027173655/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-46111525|archive-date=27 October 2020}}{{Cite web|date=28 October 2019|title=Kukur Tihar, Laxmi Puja observed; Bhai Tika tomorrow|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/kukur-tihar-laxmi-puja-observed-bhai-tika-tomorrow/|access-date=27 October 2020|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en-US|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027183335/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/kukur-tihar-laxmi-puja-observed-bhai-tika-tomorrow/|url-status=live}}

According to ABC Science, dogs might have been first domesticated in Nepal and Mongolia.{{Cite news|date=20 October 2015|title=Dogs may have been first domesticated in Nepal and Mongolia|newspaper=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2015-10-20/dog-domestication-may-have-happened-first-in-asia/6869038|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027200350/https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2015-10-20/dog-domestication-may-have-happened-first-in-asia/6869038|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-AU|last1=Images|first1=Timothy Allen/Getty}}

Celebrations

Tihar is celebrated around October or November every year.{{Cite news|last=Dahal|first=Phanindra|date=2 October 2020|title=Covid: God may punish Nepal for cancelling rites, religious leaders warn|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54375436|url-status=live|access-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028125935/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54375436|archive-date=28 October 2020}} During the festival, dogs are worshipped, bathed, and decorated with tilaka, which is made from kumkuma or gulal powders with rice and yoghurt.{{Cite web|date=18 October 2017|title=Did you know there is a dog puja festival in Nepal on Choti Diwali day?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/religion/kukur-tihar-nepal-people-worship-dogs-on-diwali-second-day-4896975/|access-date=27 October 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027183446/https://indianexpress.com/article/religion/kukur-tihar-nepal-people-worship-dogs-on-diwali-second-day-4896975/|url-status=live}} Flower garlands are draped around their necks and they are offered food including meat, milk, eggs, and dog food. Police dogs and stray dogs are also honoured.{{Cite web|date=30 October 2016|title=Dogs in Nepal enjoy treats, affection|url=https://gulf-times.com/story/519367|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114151543/http://www.gulf-times.com/story/519367|archive-date=14 November 2016|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Gulf Times}} Kukur Tihar also celebrates the relationship between dogs and humans.{{Cite web|last=Whitehead|first=Joanna|date=8 November 2018|title=This Nepalese festival has an entire day devoted to celebrating dogs|url=https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/day-of-the-dogs-nepal-festival-tihar-diwali-2018-219907|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027205258/https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/day-of-the-dogs-nepal-festival-tihar-diwali-2018-219907|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=28 October 2020|website=The i|language=en}} It is considered a sin if someone behaves disrespectfully to a dog on this day.{{Cite web|last=Mayol|first=Taylor|date=20 October 2015|title=All Dogs Go to Heaven … in Nepal|url=https://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-in-nepal/65200/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027210354/https://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-in-nepal/65200/|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=OZY}}

Reception

Kukur Tihar festival is now adopted in the USA. The first Kukur Tihar- Day of the Dog Celebration §The first Kukur Tihar- A Day of the Dog Celebration https://www.enepalese.com/2024/11/439655.html happened October 27 th, 2024 at James Long Park, Haymarket, VA. Speaking at the event organizer Jewan Tiwari said they will be celebrating Kukur Tihar Annually the last Sunday in October in the US.https://patch.com/virginia/gainesville-va/historic-celebration-kukur-tihar-usa-unites-dog-lovers-virginia-nodx[https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2024/10/1561301/the-first-dog-festival-was-celebrated-in-virginia-usa "Kukur Tihar to be celebrated Annually"] Online Khabar. 31 October 2024

After the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, Animal Nepal used the occasion of the festival to promote awareness about dogs who became homeless. The Kathmandu Post reported that people were buying foreign breeds of dogs which left the local dogs in the streets.{{Cite web|title=Kukur Puja for rescued dogs|url=https://kathmandupost.com/art-entertainment/2014/10/22/kukur-puja-for-rescued-dogs|access-date=28 October 2020|website=The Kathmandu Post|language=English|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028150746/https://kathmandupost.com/art-entertainment/2014/10/22/kukur-puja-for-rescued-dogs|url-status=live}}

Kukur Tihar spread around Mexico in 2016 to make people aware of respecting animals.{{Cite web|date=12 November 2018|title=Mexico adopts Kukur Tihar|url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/mexico-adopts-kukur-tihar/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027184648/https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/mexico-adopts-kukur-tihar/|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Nepali Times|language=en-US}} Special Broadcasting Service reported that many Nepalis in Australia were also celebrating the festival.{{Cite web|title=Every dog has its 'favourite' day in Nepal|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/every-dog-has-its-favourite-day-in-nepal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027192448/https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/every-dog-has-its-favourite-day-in-nepal|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=SBS|language=en}}{{Cite web|title="Happy Dog Day": Nepalis in Australia celebrate their favorite companion for a Hindu festival|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/happy-dog-day-nepalis-in-australia-celebrate-their-favorite-companion-for-a-hindu-festival|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027200739/https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/happy-dog-day-nepalis-in-australia-celebrate-their-favorite-companion-for-a-hindu-festival|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=SBS|language=en}} In 2008. Asian Art in London celebrated the festival by creating a dog walk charity event.{{Cite journal|last=Moore|first=Susan|date=1 November 2008|title=Asian art market: Asian Art in London offers up an extraordinary range of works from every corner of the continent. Susan Moore selects some highlights|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&issn=00036536&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA189597200&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs|journal=Apollo|language=English|volume=168|issue=559|pages=108–110|access-date=28 October 2020|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028152146/https://go.gale.com/ps/anonymous?p=AONE&sw=w&issn=00036536&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA189597200&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs|url-status=live}} Also in 2016, Kathmandu Metropolitan City with the help of Humane Society International and Jane Goodall Institute Nepal created a program to "humanely manage urban dog population".{{Cite web|date=20 April 2016|title=Nepal's First Metropolitan Dog Management Program – "Manumitra" – Launched in Kathmandu|url=https://www.hsi.org/news-media/nepal-dog-population-management-042016/|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Humane Society International|language=en-US|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027205908/https://www.hsi.org/news-media/nepal-dog-population-management-042016/|url-status=live}} An educational assessment done by International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM Coalition) found that dogs in the capital of Nepal were "generally healthy and accepted by the community".{{Cite web|last=Kartal|first=Tamara|date=29 July 2019|title=Manu Mitra: an example of community engagement in Kathmandu, Nepal|url=https://www.icam-coalition.org/manu-mitra-an-example-of-community-engagement-in-kathmandu-nepal/|access-date=27 October 2020|website=ICAM|language=en-GB|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027193832/https://www.icam-coalition.org/manu-mitra-an-example-of-community-engagement-in-kathmandu-nepal/|url-status=live}}

In 2018, a dog named Kushal was named "The Best Dog of the Year" by the Nepal Police on the occasion of the festival after the dog helped discover the murderer of a 10-year-old girl.{{Cite web|title='Special 78' sniff out murderers for Nepal Police|url=https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2018/11/07/special-78-sniff-out-murderers-for-nepal-police|access-date=28 October 2020|website=The Kathmandu Post|language=English|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028151257/https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2018/11/07/special-78-sniff-out-murderers-for-nepal-police|url-status=live}}

After the Chinese Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, in which festival-goers eat dog meat and lychees, garnered international outrage, One Green Planet described Kukur Tihar as "[it] will restore your faith in humanity".{{Cite web|date=29 June 2015|title=Mad About the Yulin Dog Meat Festival? This Festival in Nepal Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity|url=https://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/nepal-dog-festival/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027193245/https://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/nepal-dog-festival/|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020|website=One Green Planet|language=en}} People on social media contrasted the Chinese festival with Kukur Tihar and The Dodo reported that "[it gave] heartbroken dog lovers a reason to feel hopeful again".{{Cite web|last=Schweig|first=Sarah V.|date=26 June 2015|title=Dogs Thanked For Friendship And Loyalty in Most Beautiful Festival|url=https://www.thedodo.com/nepal-festival-celebrates-dogs-1218492472.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027210922/https://www.thedodo.com/nepal-festival-celebrates-dogs-1218492472.html|archive-date=27 October 2020|access-date=28 October 2020|website=The Dodo}} In a 2016 newspaper article, the President of Animal Nepal appealed to Nepalis "to take a pledge this Kukur Tihar, to not just worship your pets on this day but to do the right thing for them all year round. Unchain and uncage your dogs, learn to interact with them, take them for walks, understand their feelings, …"{{Cite web|date=29 October 2016|title=The essence of Kukur Tihar|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/essence-kukur-tihar/|access-date=27 October 2020|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en-US|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027191246/https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/essence-kukur-tihar/|url-status=live}} A 2007 BBC photo essay also pointed out the need to improve the treatment of Nepali dogs which, "during the rest of the year, are not generally well treated..."{{Cite news|date=8 November 2007|title=In pictures: Nepal dogs honoured|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7085278.stm|url-status=live|access-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028141842/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7085278.stm|archive-date=28 October 2020}}