Overview

• Across Nepal, people observed Kukur Tihar by adorning pet and stray dogs with marigold garlands, applying tika, and offering special meals as prasad.
• Nepal Police’s Canine Division staged a formal ceremony in Kathmandu, parading service dogs, awarding medals, and naming one “Dog of the Year.”
• Officials highlighted the trained dogs’ work in criminal investigations, search-and-rescue operations, narcotics detection, and security during VVIP visits.
• Animal welfare groups joined the observance, with Sneha’s Care conducting a mass worship of 158 dogs in Lalitpur in the presence of the city’s mayor.
• Nepali communities in India, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Shillong, upheld the festival’s customs with local rituals and cultural performances.