They’re great at sniffing out danger. They walk the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal, to keep people safe. Plus, they make awesome companions. They’re police dogs!
Pooches at Kathmandu’s Central Police Dog Training School get a every year. Officers show off their furry friends’ skills. Then, they give the dogs treats. The officers also bless their dogs and put colorful powder on the dogs’ heads. Many pooches even wear pretty flower for the event!
The celebration is part of a five-day holiday in Nepal called Tihar. It lasts from October 19 to 23 in 2025. It is a time to honor the relationship between gods, humans, and animals. People celebrate something different each day of the holiday. That includes crows, oxen, cows, and family members. Nepalese people call the second day Kukur Tihar. It’s for the dogs!
There are lots of reasons to celebrate the four-legged friends. People who practice the Hindu religion consider the dog to be an important animal. They believe a dog guards the god of death. That’s Yamaraj. Pups also work with rescue teams in . They save many lives after earthquakes. They find trapped people. They use their strong sense of smell.
People don’t just honor pets or working dogs for Kukur Tihar. They also show stray dogs some love. People give the dogs food like meat, milk, eggs, and dog food.
Happy Kukur Tihar, pups! And thanks for all you do!
By Stephanie Santana
Updated October 17, 2025, 5:00 P.M. (ET)
