A day for man’s best friend in the Darjeeling Hills

Amitava Banerjee, HT, 30 Oct 2016, DARJEELING: If “every dog has its day” today is that day, at least in the Darjeeling Hills. The day was celebrated as “Kukur Tihar” or festival in honour of the dogs.

At present “Tihar” or the “Yamapanchak” - 5 days in honour of “Yamaraj” – the mythological lord of death— is being celebrated in the Hills. The first day is called the “Kak-tihar. “On this day food on rooftops and open spaces is left for the crows. The next day is commemorated as Kukur Tihar.

On this day marigold garlands are put on dogs along with vermillion applied on its forehead. After a round of worship, the dog is offered a sumptuous meal. Even stray dogs are not left out and people offer food to them also.

Darjeeling, where nearly every household boasts of a pet dog or at least an adopted stray, saw dogs sporting marigold garlands and tikas. “We try to treat the dogs well everyday but today is special. My dog usually is on a “dogfeed” diet but today I offered him chicken and rice straight from our table,” said Mahesh Rai, a resident.

There is a lot of mythology attached to Kukur Tihar. The gates of Yamaraj’s palace is guarded by a dog. When Yudhistirha managed to reach the gates of heaven, Yamaraj had accompanied him taking the guise of a dog.

The third day of Tihar which falls on Diwali is also called Gai Tiwar. Early in the morning the cow which symbolises Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. The houses are painted and marigold garlands are put on doors to welcome the goddess.

In the evening after performing Laxmi Puja, tika is anointed on the forehead of seven small girls as they are worshipped as the goddess of wealth. Diyo or a lamp is lit in the main altar of the house. A copper vase called Gagri is kept filled with water and decorated with flowers. Groups of girls dressed in traditional Gunue Cholo, sit outside the main entrance of houses and sing the traditional “Bhailo.”

The day after Gai Tiwar is observed as the Goru Tiwar the day dedicated to the ox. In the evening Deushi is sung by groups of boys attired in traditional Daura Suruwal and playing the traditional musical instruments, madal, chyabrung and jhyamta. Deushi is same as Bhailo in essence, being a form of blessing but it is sung by boys.

Both bhailo and deushi are forms of folk culture. The five day Tihar culminates with Bhai-Tika.

“Tihar or Dipawali according to Nepali tradition has great connection with animals. However, this is the time animals suffer owing to the irresponsible use of fire crackers.