Kukur Tihar

Kukur Tihar
Dog bedecked with flower garlands
Official name	कुकुर तिहार
Also called	Festival of Dogs
Type	Religious
Celebrations	Honouring dogs
Observances	Prayers and religious rituals
Date	Kārtika māsa kṛṣṇa pakṣa chaturdashi tithi
2023 date	12 November 2023
Frequency	Annual

Kukur Tihar (also called Narak Chaturdashi, Nepali: कुकुर तिहार) is an annual Hindu festival originating from Nepal which falls on the second day of the festival of Tihar (around October or November). On this day, people worship dogs to please Yama, the god of death, as they are considered to be his messengers. Dogs are decorated with tilaka and wear flower garlands around their necks. Worshippers offer them various foods including meat, milk, eggs, and dog food. It is considered a sin if someone acts disrespectfully to a dog on this day.

Kukur Tihar is also celebrated worldwide by the Nepalese diaspora.