Nepal Celebrates Annual Kukur Puja Festival Honoring Dogs

On October 31, 2024, Nepal celebrated its unique “Kukur Puja” festival, part of the five-day Tihar festival, which honors dogs for their loyalty and companionship. In this celebration, both pet and stray dogs are adorned with marigold garlands, have vermillion placed on their foreheads, and are treated with special food offerings. At the Armed Police Force canine center in Kathmandu, service dogs were especially honored for their contributions to security and rescue missions. According to Hindu belief, dogs are considered the messengers of Yamraj, the god of death, and by worshipping them, people seek to please the deity. The Kukur Puja is a heartfelt event that acknowledges the important roles dogs play in both spiritual and practical aspects of life in Nepal.