Autumn is a season for festivals in Nepal.

Tihar, also known as Deepawali, lasts for five days. The five day festivities mark the worship of various Hindu deities and celebration among families, relations and friends. Pujas(worship), lights, colors, flowers, new clothes, feasts and merriment, all these make up the joyous festival of Tihar.

Every dog has its day. Dogs in Nepal or Nepali homes sure do have their day! Kukur Puja, which falls on the second day of the Tihar festival is dedicated to the dogs. Dogs are traditionally the guardian of people’s houses as well as that of Yamaraj’s underworld. On this day they are worshiped and offered food.

Nepal is celebrating the festival of Tihar, its equivalent of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. In Nepal, on the second day of the feast, special honour is bestowed on dogs.

On this day, called Kukur Puja or Kukur Tihar, its canines are garlanded, adorned with the Hindu powder of blessing, the tika, and given festive food including sweetmeats – jalabis.

According to the Hindu scripture, the Mahabharat, dogs accompanied Dharmaraj Yudhisthir on his journey to heaven. There is also a Hindu belief that dogs guard the underworld.

This training school has 51 dogs on which the rituals of respect are bestowed. They are used for rescue and search, for tracking criminals, explosives and drugs, and patrol work.

Other dogs from the neighbourhood may also be lucky enough to get a look-in. Of the dogs in the training school, many are puppies, some born on the premises, others from outside.

Even Kathmandu’s many street dogs get garlanded. Ironically, for the rest of the year dogs are not generally well treated and many are left to fend for themselves and feed on scraps.

But every dog has his day and here at the Police Dog Training School, it’s recognized that no animal has a closer relationship with people.

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