More facts for the Dog Obsessed: Kukur Tihar

This week marks the celebration of the Hindu day of celebration called Kukur Tihar, which celebrates dogs. According to legend, dogs are the companions of Yamaraja, the God of Death.  They are guardians of his realm and guides to the deceased. (They also allegedly keep evil people from ascending to the highest realms.)

On this day, dogs — including strays — are bathed, dressed in garlands of flowers, their faces are painted, and they are given extra treats. It is considered a sin to disrespect a dog on this day.  Hindu stories are full of examples of heroic dogs. Dogs are also thought of as instructive to humans, having both a wild and a domesticated nature.