Third Day of Tihar: Today is Naraka Chaturdashi, Kukur Tihar
Prof Devmani Bhattarai, the chairperson of the Valmiki Vidyapeeth Department of Theology and a member of the committee, believes that Chaturdashi and Kukur Tihar should be celebrated on the day when Chaturdashi falls at sunrise.
KATHMANDU: Today, on the third day of Tihar, Nepal’s second largest festival, the dog that guards the house is honored and celebrated by giving sweet food in addition to worship.
According to the Nepal Panchang Adjudicatory Development Committee, although Kukur (dog) Tihar usually falls on the second day of Yamapanchak, or Diwali, this year it falls on the third day due to a change in dates.
Prof Devmani Bhattarai, the chairperson of the Valmiki Vidyapeeth Department of Theology and a member of the committee, believes that Chaturdashi and Kukur Tihar should be celebrated on the day when Chaturdashi falls at sunrise.
According to theologian Prof Ramachandra Gautam, on the day of Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi, the dogs were given sweet food to eat, Shyam and Sabal, who live as gatekeepers at Yamaraj’s gate, and the dog festival is celebrated based on the religious belief that when going to Yamalok, Shyam and Shabal dogs leave the way.
A dog born in the clan of Vaivaswat Manvantar is said to have accompanied Dharma King Yudhishthira on his journey to heaven. Dogs are regarded as obedient and dependable pets. The number of people who believe that owning a dog does not cause heart disease or diabetes is growing.
