[Animals] In Nepal, all good dogs are worshipped

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It was the annual Kukur Puja festival in Nepal on Thursday, and dogs across the nation were draped in marigold garlands, marked with celebratory vermillion pigment and presented with overflowing platters of treats.

Like Diwali in India, the five-day Hindu festival of Tihar, being celebrated this week in Nepal, is a festival of lights. Unlike Diwali, Tihar includes the worship of creatures, and Kukur Puja, on its second day, is dedicated to dogs.

According to Hindu mythology, dogs are the messengers of Yamaraj, the god of death. His two four-eyed dogs are said to track down the dying and guard their path into his realm. Celebrating dogs is believed to please Yamaraj.

All dogs, including pets, strays and working dogs, are worshipped.

At the Armed Police Force canine center in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, service dogs lined up with their handlers. One by one, police officers marked their foreheads with vermillion, draped them in flowers and presented them with snacks in a ritual appreciation of their role in providing security.

 

In Nepal, all good dogs are worshipped