कुकुर तिहार

The tradition & historical record

Kukur Tihar (Nepali: कुकुर तिहार) is an annual Hindu festival originating from Nepal. It is celebrated on the second day of the five-day Tihar festival, it is dedicated to the worship and honoring of dogs, reflecting the bond between humans and dogs. The day is observed as a public holiday in Nepal. The festival follows the Nepal's national Bikram Sambat calendar, and takes place during the lunar month of Kartik (typically falling between October and mid-November in the Gregorian calendar). It falls on the second day of the five-day Tihar festival, a day after Kaag Tihar (Festival of the Crows) and a day before Gai Tihar (Festival of the Cows). ¹

The name Kukur Tihar comes from two Nepali words: Kukur (कुकुर), meaning "dog", and Tihar (तिहार) is the name of the five-day-long festival. The term therefore translates to "Dog Tihar," "Dog Festival" or "Festival of the Dogs." ¹

The Kukur Tihar festival is believed to have orignated from the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata. After renouncing their kingdom, the five Pandava brothers and their common consort Draupadi, begin their final journey, known as the Mahaprasthanika Parva, through the Himalayas toward Mount Meru to reach Svarga (heaven). Along the way, a stray dog joins them as a companion. One by one, Draupadi and four of the brothers die during the journey, leaving only Yudhishthira and the dog. ¹

When they reach the end of their journey, Indra, the king of the gods, arrives in a chariot to take Yudhishthira to Svarga but tells him that the dog can no longer accompany him. Yudhishthira refuses to abandon his loyal companion, choosing to give up Svarga than leave the dog behind. At that moment, the dog reveals itself as Yama, the god of death and righteousness, who had taken the form of a dog to test Yudhishthira's righteousness throughout the journey. Impressed by Yudhishthira's compassion and loyalty, Indra allows him to enter Svarga. In Hindu mythology, Yama is also associated with his four-eyed dogs, Sharvara and Shyama, who guard the paths leading to the underworld (Yamaloka). In Nepal, dogs are worshipped during Kukur Tihar as symbols of loyalty and protection. This tradition is rooted in the belief that dogs act as protective companions and spiritual guides, helping souls safely navigate the transition into the afterlife and reach judgment under Yama, the god of death and righteousness. ¹

Kukur Tihar is part of Tihar, a five-day Hindu festival that originated in Nepal and is celebrated annually according to Nepal's national Bikram Sambat calendar, shortly after Dashain. It falls on the second day of the festival, following Kaag Tihar, when crows are honoured. The following days after Kukur Tihar include Gai Tihar, dedicated to cows; Goru Tihar, dedicated to oxen; and Bhai Tika, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. ¹

During Kukur Tihar, both pet dogs and stray dogs are worshipped and honored with great respect. People apply a red vermillion mark (tika) to dogs' foreheads and tops of their paws as a blessing and drape garlands of marigold or other fresh flowers around their necks. Dogs are offered traditional Nepali dishes, dog food, and protein-rich meals, such as meat, milk, and eggs. In addition to household and street celebration, institutions across Nepal, such as the Nepal Police and the Nepal Army, hold formal ceremonies to honor the service of police dog and military dogs. In 2018, a dog named Kushal was named "The Best Dog of the Year" by the Nepal Police on the occasion of the festival after the dog helped discover the murderer of a 10-year-old girl. ¹

On 3 November 2026, the Nepal Tourism Board, operating under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation led by Minister Khadak Raj Paudel, launched the annual Kukur Tihar Reel Contest. The initiative aims to promote the festival globally, highlight the bond between humans and dogs, and encourage digital engagement among content creators. Participants are encouraged to submit original social media reels showcasing traditional observances, such as applying red tika and drape garlands of marigold or fresh flowers around the dogs' necks, alongside everyday moments. To ensure international accessibility, creators are required to feature either English voice-over or English subtitles. The submission deadline is set for 21 November 2026, with a cash prize of रू 100,000 (approximately US$650) awarded to the winner. ¹

In 2008. Asian Art in London celebrated Kukur Tihar by organizing a charity dog walk. ¹

The text above is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Kukur Tihar”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. ¹

Kukur Tihar is Annual Hindu festival originating from Nepal, according to the structured record cited below. This entry was generated automatically from that record and has not yet been reviewed by a person familiar with the tradition. ²

The source record links this tradition to 2 external registers, which can be verified through the citation. ²