Festivals & Events

Nepal Gives Every Dog a Flower Garland and a Tika, Even the Ones on the Street

On the second day of Tihar, Nepal doesn't just tolerate its street dogs — it puts a mark of worship on their foreheads, from the stray on the corner…

By Laxman Rawal · Sep 3, 2026

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Walk through Kathmandu on the right day in November and you'll see something that looks, at first, like a mistake: a scruffy street dog wearing a marigold garland, a smear of red tika between its eyes, sitting patiently while a stranger sets a plate of rice…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Why dogs, specifically

The mythology behind Kukur Tihar centres on Yama, the god who judges souls after death. Hindu texts describe him keeping two four-eyed dogs, Shyama and Sharvara, as guardians of the boundary between the living and the dead. Nepali Hindus honour dogs on this…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

What this means for travellers

What this means for you If your Nepal trip lands on 8 November 2026, don't be surprised to see garlanded, tika-marked dogs everywhere from temple courtyards to trekking-village lodges — including dogs with no owner in sight. It's normal, it's temporary, and…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

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