Tihar,
one of the great celebrations in the Hindu calendar, is a five-day autumn
festival generally known as the festival of lights. Each day has its own focus,
and specific observances vary from one denomination of Hinduism to another.
Regardless of regional and denominational differences, Tihar is a period of
gift-giving, storytelling, and recognition of the relationships humans have
with all things.
In
Nepalese Hinduism, Kukur Tihar is a day devoted to the celebration of dogs. Similar
to other Tihar observances, lamps are lit at night during Tihar. The festival
of lights celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of knowledge over
ignorance, and the dissolution of barriers that separate humans from authentic
experience of the world. Nepalese Hinduism is unique in dedicating the second
day of Tihar, Kukur Tihar, to the worship of dogs.
Kukur
Tihar, or Kukur Puja, is the second day of Tihar, during which dogs are
honored. Dogs are especially important to Nepal’s Hindu practitioners. During
day two of Tihar, Kukur Tihar, the role of dogs in human life and throughout
history is celebrated. In the Rigveda, one of Hinduism’s most ancient
texts, Samara — the mother of dogs — assists Indra, the ruler of heaven, in
retrieving stolen cattle. Hindu tradition holds that a dog is the guardian and
messenger of Yama, the lord and judge of the dead. A dog is also said to guard
the gates of the afterlife.
Indra
refuses to allow Yudhishthira's dog into heaven. Yudhishthira refuses to enter
heaven without his dog. At the close of the Mahabharata, the king of
righteousness, Yudhishthira, refuses to enter heaven without his devoted dog.
The dog is revealed to represent the concept of dharma, the path of
righteousness. During Tihar, each day is devoted to a honoring a different
concept or entity: crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and fraternal relationships,
respectively. On the second day, Kukur Tihar, all dogs are recognized, honored,
and worshiped.
Tihar
for dogs: the garland
During
Kukur Tihar, the mythological and real relationships between humans and dogs
constitute the day’s major focus. A garland of flowers is draped around the
neck of every dog; not only those with homes, but strays as well. This
beautiful dog wears a mala, or flower garland, around the neck during Kukur
Tihar. This floral necklace, called a mala, is a mark of respect and dignity.
It announces the wearer as important, and symbolizes the prayers that go with
the dog.
Tihar
for dogs: the tika
On
Kukur Tihar, a red mark is applied to the forehead of each dog. In Nepal, this
mark is called the tika, a paste made from abir — a red dye powder — along with
rice and yogurt. The tika is applied in a single stroke on the forehead upward
from the eyes. A dog in Nepal makes his way down the street with a tika on his
forehead. Like the mala that garlands the neck, the red tika marks the dog as
both a devotee of the righteous path and as an object of devotion. The tika
imbues the dog with an air of sacredness and acts as a blessing to those who
encounter the dog during Kukur Tihar.
Tihar
for dogs: food offerings
Prayers
and flowers are certainly nice, but as far as dogs are concerned, their
favorite part of Kukur Tihar must be the food. On the first day of Tihar, Kaag
Tihar, food is arrayed on the roofs of homes as offerings to crows. On the
second day, food offerings are put out for dogs in the home, as well as for
strays in the streets. These food offerings take a variety of forms. Depending
on the celebrant, the dog’s treats may include milk, eggs, meat, or
high-quality dog food. Some may even offer dogs a bit of sel roti, a deep-fried
confection similar to a donut. This is a day when dogs have the best of
everything.
This
is a very general overview of Kukur Tihar. While its origins are traced to
Nepalese Hinduism, variants of the day of the dog are celebrated by
denominations of Hinduism and Buddhism across the world. Kukur Tihar honors
dogs in all of their aspects: as guardians, companions, and friends.
Source: Dogster.com
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