A special religious festival was held in Nepal on November 14 to honour dogs with garlands and treats.

The festival of lights and animals, called "Yama Panchak" or "Tihar," is a five-day-long festival and began on Friday (November 13).

The first day of the festival is dedicated to crows. The second day of the festival is traditionally known as the “Day of Dogs” or “Kukur Tihar,” which was celebrated on Saturday.

In Nepal, dogs are worshipped as the messengers of Yama, the God of death, as well as for being guardians.

On the day dogs are adorned with flowers and vermillion tika (a mark on their forehead), and offered food as part of the “Kukur Tihar” ceremony.

A special festival in Nepal, Yama Panchak or Tihar dedicates a day for worshipping of the dogs. The festival of lights and animals in Nepal, Tihar is a five-day-long festival and it began on Friday. The day one of the festival was dedicated to the crows. The second day of the festival is traditionally known as the “Day of Dogs” or “Kukur Tihar”, which was celebrated on Saturday (14th Nov).In Nepal, dogs are worshipped as the messengers of Yama, the God of death, as well as the guardians.

On the day, dogs are adorned with flowers, and vermillion tika (mark on forehead) and offered food as part of the “Kukur Tihar” ceremony. The dogs are worshipped early in the morning for their devotion and sincerity towards their owners.

Dog, which is an animal well known for being the trustworthy sentry as well as a faithful companion of humans since ancient times, is worshipped once a year on this day.Dog, which is said to have accompanied Dharmaraj Yudhisthir on his journey to heaven in the mythological grand epic Mahabharat, has a close relationship with mankind.