Dogs have always been and will always be our best friends.
They love us in the most unconditional way, they are there for us, they are loyal to the ground, they enjoy our presence, they cheer us up when we are down, they remind us that pure love does exist, they open our eyes to the joys of life and help us understand the meaning of those small, everyday things in life… They truly are a gift from God. And for that, I am beyond grateful.
And fortunately, I am not the only one. But I am not the only one.
I don’t know if you knew, but there is a festival in Nepal that is dedicated entirely to dogs. Yes, you read it right. They call it “Diwali”, or in other words the ‘festival of lights’ which is celebrated by millions of Hindus every year in the fall, in India, Nepal, and elsewhere.
During this celebration, they have a very important event called Kukur Tihar or Kukur Puja(Worship of the dogs). This is a special date because it is the time when they celebrate their sacred connection with dogs and thank them for their remarkable loyalty and unconditional commitment.
The Tihar celebration lasts for five days. And on the second day, these wonderful people celebrate the lives of their furry friends and give thanks to them for being a very crucial part of their lives.
Their tradition is on a whole different level. It’s about worshiping dogs in the real sense of the world. Praising them for the love and loyalty they give to us. Showering them with flowers. Offering them delicious foods. Adorning them with lovely flower garlands. Marking them with “tika” on their tiny little foreheads. Saying thanks to their unconditional commitment to us, humans.
What’s even more heartwarming is the fact that this celebration is not only for pets, but it also includes the strays. The red power mark that they put on their heads is just a sign how much people of Nepal respect and love their furry companions. It also shows that these animals are truly sacred.
This royal treatment of dogs is a result of their strong belief that dogs are in fact messengers of Yama, the Hindu god of death. It is their way of appeasing the god and carrying on the tradition from generation to generation.
Below are photos of lovely doggos on the streets of Nepal enjoying their day. How heartwarmingly beautiful.
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