Nepal’s Kukur Tihar:  Celebrating dogs as divine guardians of loyalty - video Dailymotion

In Nepal, Kukur Tihar — the “Dog Festival” — celebrates dogs as divine companions of Yama, the god of death.

Transcript

00:00This is Nepal celebrating its Kukur Tihar festival.

00:03Dogs are adorned with marigold garlands and red tikka marks on their foreheads

00:07and offer delicious food as a sign of gratitude.

00:11Kukur Tihar, which literally means Dog Festival, is celebrated on the second day of Tihar,

00:16Nepal's five-day Hindu festival, also known as Dipavali or the Festival of Lights.

00:20Each year, on the second day of the Tihar festival,

00:23Nepalese honor and worship dogs for their loyalty and spiritual significance.

00:27They are offered special treats such as meat, eggs, milk and traditional delicacies

00:32as a mark of respect and gratitude.

00:35Nepalese believe dogs are sacred companions of Yama, the god of death.

00:39They honor this divine bond between humans and dogs,

00:42seeking protection and blessing for the coming year.

00:45In a world where dogs are often just pets, Nepal makes them divine,

00:49turning faith into a beautiful act of kindness, loyalty and gratitude.