Every dog has its day, and in Nepal that day is the second day of Tihar, as the festival of Diwaliis locally known.
To celebrate Kukur Tihar or Khichā Pujā (worship of the dogs), it is customary for people to offer blessings to dogs, which according to Hindu tradition are the messengers of Yamaraj, the god of death. The dogs are also pampered and given treats. Police dog handlers in Kathmandu decorate their dogs with marigold garlands and vermillion powder.
