Editorial photo #12886006 Human Interest
Nepal Worship Dogs On Kukur Tihar: Fiesta Of Hounds
Nepal Police service dogs follow instructions from their handler during the Kukur Tihar celebration in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 20, 2025. In the Central Dog Training School in Kathmandu, the dogs receive garlands and a medal for their special contribution to security and helping solve cases. The dogs, regarded as guardians and messengers of Yama, are offered garlands, bread, and are worshipped with vermilion powder and flowers. In the Rigveda, one of the Vedas in Hindu religion, Samara, the mother of dogs, assists Indra, the ruler of heaven, in retrieving stolen cattle. On the second day of Yama Panchak or Tihar, Nepal honors the role played by dogs by worshipping pet or stray dogs early in the morning for the devotion and sincerity they show. The canine, known for its trust, sentry, and as a faithful companion to humans since ancient times, is worshipped annually in Nepal. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)
