Kukkur Tihar: A Celebration Of Dogs
By: Saumya Mishra
Tags: Nepal, Festivals, Dogs, Pets, Animals

What is life if not a multitude of celebrations appreciating the myriad ways it serves us in. From celebrating the blossoming of spring season to acknowledging the importance of truth, from thanking the Sun God for abundant yield to appreciating the companionship of dogs, festivals remain an inseparable part of our lives.

One such festival we’re going to delve into is Kukkur Tihar and in a flash, you’ll learn about this Nepalese festival that celebrates dogs.

WHAT IS ‘TIHAR’

The word ‘tihar’ means celebration or festival. Tihar is the second greatest, five days long festival celebrated in Nepal. Just like Diwali in India, Tihar is a festival of lights celebrated after Dashain by Hindus of Nepal. Celebrated around October or November, the Nepalese honor crows, dogs, bulls and Goddess Lakshmi during the 5 days of the festival.

The first day of the festival is called Kaag Tihar and the Nepalese honor crows believing them to be the messenger of Death according to the Hindu mythology. The crows are offered different types of grains, seeds, and sweets to ward evil or death off from the family.

Kukkur Tihar is celebrated on the second day to worship dogs and appreciate their companionship. The pet and stray dogs are adorned with flower garlands around their necks and are worshipped with a tilak on their heads made with kumkum, rice and yoghurt. Worshippers offer them treats like meat, milk, eggs and dog food while those who disrespect a dog on this day are considered to be the sinners.

Cows are considered to be sacred in the Hindu mythology and thus, are worshipped on the third day called the Gaai Tihar. Later that day, Goddess Lakshmi, considered to be the Goddess of wealth, is worshipped to invite prosperity in the house.

The fourth day, called Calleja, is reserved to worship and respect the ox. The ox is seen as an analogue to the cow in Hindu mythology, as the ox provides manual labor which is essential for Nepal, an agriculture-reliant country.

Finally, the last day, called Kija Puja or Bhai Tika, is celebrated with much fanfare across the country to mark the special bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, brothers and sisters worship each other for their long life and prosperity.

FACTS ABOUT KUKKUR TIHAR:

EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD

Kukkur Tihar celebrates the unconditional love and services of dogs to humankind. It is the celebration of the special bond between dogs and humans. Countries like Mexico and Australia also admire and celebrate Kukkur Tihar to honor and worship the dogs for their loyalty.

MYTHOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

The mythological reference of celebrating a dog’s loyalty comes from the epic tale of Mahabharat. The Pandavas and their wife, Draupadi, while on their way to Heaven, climbed the Himalayas but the eldest brother, Yudhishthir and his dog were left perishing along the way. Later, when Lord Indra welcomes him to Heaven but tells him that he has to leave his dog behind, Yudhishthir refuses the offer and insists on returning to Earth. The dog is then replaced by Yama, the God of Death and Indra, impressed by Yudhishthir, opens the gates of Heaven for him. This tale purely depicts the bond dogs and humans share.

Besides, dogs are worshipped to please Yama as they are considered to be his messengers. It is believed that the two dogs of Yama — Shyam and Sadal guard the doors of Hell. Those who worship dogs begin to have a positive perspective towards death and hope that dogs will guard them against the torture in Hell.

SAY NO TO ANIMAL CRUELTY

Guangxi, a Chinese province, celebrates the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival in which festival-goers eat dog meat and lychees. Reportedly, over a period of 10 days, thousands of dogs are consumed. Many animal rights activists condemn and are against this ritual. In such a scenario, Kukkur Tihar can restore our faith in humanity and make us feel hopeful again.

In conclusion, Kukkur Tihar, the second day of Tihar festival, is one of the most important and popular festivals of Nepal. Giving rise to several charity events and awareness programs, this festival helps restore faith in humanity. Lastly, we believe, celebrating dogs and their undying love and loyalty is not a one-day event; they deserve our love and warmth all year long. So, keep showering your love on the little fur-babies and make this world a better place to live in.