Kukur Tihar is the day of the Tihar festival when people in Nepal honour dogs. They put a garland of marigolds around a dog’s neck, mark its forehead with a red tika, and give it food. House dogs and street dogs are honoured alike.
When it falls
| Year | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 or 8 November | Calendars differed; Tihar ran 7 to 11 November |
| 2027 | Expected Thursday, 28 October | To be confirmed by Nepal’s Calendar Determination Committee |
Tihar is a five-day festival in the month of Kartik, at the same time as Diwali in India. Kukur Tihar is usually the second day, on Narak Chaturdashi, but Nepal’s calendar committee can move it; in 2025 it fell on the third day.
Why dogs
In the Hindu tradition, dogs are messengers of Yama, the god of death, and guard the way to the next world. The five days of Tihar honour, in turn, crows, dogs, cows, oxen and brothers. Honouring dogs on their day is also a thank-you for their loyalty and for guarding homes.
Kukur Tihar in India
Nepali-speaking families celebrate it in Sikkim, Darjeeling and other places. The idea fits Indian law too: the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 protect community dogs and give a place for people to feed them.
What you can do this year
- Feed the community dogs near you at a fixed, clean spot. Read Feeding community animals: good practice.
- If your RWA stops you, read Feeding community dogs: the law, and what to do if your RWA stops you.
- Keep firecrackers away from dogs during Diwali and Tihar. Read a vet on keeping street animals safe this Diwali.
By Animal Writes
