The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: māsa (lunar month), pakṣa (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day).
Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. amānta / pūrṇimānta. If a festival falls in the waning phase of the moon, these two traditions identify the same lunar day as falling in two different (but successive) masa.
A lunar year is shorter than a solar year by about eleven days. As a result, most Hindu festivals occur on different days in successive years on the Gregorian calendar.
Kukur Tihar (Nepali: कुकुर तिहार) is an annual Hindu festival originating in 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 Bikram Sambat, Nepal's national 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).
Etymology
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 Festival" or "Festival of the Dogs," refers to the day dedicated to honouring and worshipping dogs during the second day of the festival.
Origin
19th-century illustration depicting the death of Draupadi and the Pandava brothers' final journey through the Himalayas, companied by a dog.
In the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, after renouncing their kingdom, the five Pandava brothers and Draupadi, the wife of the eldest brother, Yudhishthira, begin their final journey, known as the Mahaprasthanika Parva, through the Himalayas toward Mount Meru to reach Svarga (heaven). Along the way, a dog with no name joins them as a companion. One by one, Draupadi and four of the brothers die during the journey, leaving only Yudhishthira and the dog.
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 justice, who had taken the form of a dog to test Yudhishthira's righteousness throughout the journey. Impressed by his compassion and loyalty, Indra allows him to enter Svarga.
Shiva in the form of Bhairava accompanied by his divine dog companion.
In Hindu mythology, Yama is also associated with 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 justice.
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. Reflecting this profound and enduring relationship, historical and genetic studies suggest that the region encompassing Nepal and Mongolia may have been among the earliest centers of dog domestication, cementing a deep-rooted bond between humans and dogs that is mirrored in ancient epics like the Mahabharata.
Celebrations
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 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.
International adoption
United Kingdom
In 2008. Asian Art in London celebrated Kukur Tihar by organizing a charity dog walk.
Mexico
Kukur Tihar was introduced in Mexico in 2016 to raise awareness about animals respect and welfare.
Australia
On 6 November 2018, the Australian public broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), reported that many Nepalese in Australia were also celebrating Kukur Tihar.
United States
The Kukur Tihar festival has been adopted in the United States. The first “Kukur Tihar USA – Day of the Dog Celebration” took place on 27 October 2024, at James Long Park in Haymarket, Virginia, United States. The event's founder, Jewan “Jack” Tiwari, announced that it would be held annually on the last Sunday of October. Following this schedule, the second annual celebration was held on 26 October 2025. The event featured the traditional blessing ceremony and received a formal commendation from the office of U.S. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam for promoting cultural exchange and compassion within the community.
Awareness and welfare
In a 2016 newspaper article, the president of Animal Nepal urged Nepalese people to take care of dogs throughout the year, not just during Kukur Tihar. The president encouraged people to unchain and uncage their dogs, take them for walks, understand their feelings, and learn how to care for them properly.
A 2007 BBC photo essay on Kukur Tihar highlighted the need to improve the treatment of dogs in Nepal, noting that "for the rest of the year dogs are not generally well treated and many are left to fend for themselves and feed on scraps."
Gallery
Kukur Tihar celebrations in the United States, 2025
