Nepalese Dog Honoring Ceremony at Harvest Fest

Your dog has probably been through a lot with you this year. Take some time to give thanks and honor your pooch with garlands and colors, inspired by the customs of the annual Nepalese dog honoring festival, Tihar!

On October 12, bring your dog to the Rubin Museum of Art’s booth at Harvest Fest, an outdoor artisanal market and seasonal festival produced by the Meatpacking Business Improvement District in Hudson River Park’s 14th Street Park. You’ll get to honor your dog according to a Nepalese tradition and take home a certificate from the Rubin as a keepsake.

About the Kukur Tihar Dog Honoring Ceremony

Originating in Nepal, Tihar is a 5-day festival of light that takes place in October. Each day of Tihar is devoted to honoring a different entity or concept: crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and fraternal relationships. Kukur Tihar, the second day of the festival, celebrates the real and mythological relationships between humans and dogs. Dog owners thank their dogs as guardians of their home with flower garlands, vermillion paste, and tasty treats.

Honoring Your Dog at Harvest Fest

Teaching artists will guide dog owners in placing garlands on their dogs’ necks and vermillion dots on their dogs’ foreheads, then collectively thank the dogs. Afterward, each dog owner will receive a certificate from the Rubin Museum as a keepsake.