If your love for dogs knows no bounds, you finally have an excuse to thank your canine friends publicly. You just need a way to safely fly to Nepal – preferably when COVID-19 is a thing of the past – to celebrate in a festival known as Kukur Tihar.
Kukur Tihar is enjoyed by Hindus during Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which, writes the BBC, is a “festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness”.
Hindus believe that dogs wait for them at the gates of heaven, and once they die, dogs guide their souls through. The Kukur Tihar is a celebration of the special bond of loyalty, love and devotion between dogs and their owners. During the festival, dogs are made garlands out of marigold flowers, which symbolise auspiciousness.
In a typical day for a dog involved in the ceremony, he’ll start his morning by having a bath, and red and yellow powder – symbolising the abundance of life and energy – are prepared. There are also flowers, garlands, rice, money and lights added to the preparations, which are all considered auspicious to the ceremony.
The dog’s paws are sprinkled with water, and tika, a red powder mixed with rice and yogurt, is marked in an upward line on his forehead, acting as a blessing to all who cross his path and marking him as a sacred being. Marigold flowers are then sprinkled over the dog’s paws and head, and garlands are placed around his neck.
The owner rings a small bell and gives the dog blessings, and candles and incense are lit. The owner bows to the dog to show their gratitude, and places money at his feet.
The smoothness of this ceremony most likely depends on the discipline of your dog. As this video shows, a dog that is capable of sitting still and following orders will make the ceremony easier, but an excitable dog that causes chaos definitely adds some lovable humour to the day.
At the end of the ceremony, a dog is presented with his favorite treats and toys. One common treat, called sel roti, is a fried food a little bit like a donut, which is made from milk and eggs, plus meat and dog food.
Diwali lasts for five days, and the honouring of dogs usually takes place on the second day. The ceremony is about as inclusive as it gets – not only are pets involved, but also stray dogs, who receive exactly the same treatment. Food and water is left out for them by those who are participating in the ceremony.
If you want to know when you can join in with these festivities, it’s worth being aware that Diwali changes date every year. This year, Diwali begins on Saturday, November 20, so add it to your diary if you want an excuse to show your dog just how much he means to you.
Kukur Tihar is a truly beautiful festival that reminds us never to take our animals for granted. Whether you personally believe that your own dog will guide you through the gates of heaven is irrelevant – celebrating him for his loyalty, love and devotion in the now is just as special.
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