It’s no secret that a dog is a man’s best friend and that was certainly the case in Nepal on Sunday.

It marked the second of five days of the Hindu Tihar festival, or Diwali, which is held to worship and celebrate sacred four legged animals.

Kukur Tihar, is a tribute of all things canine and sees dogs adorned with flowers and offered food after a lavish ceremony.

Hindus see dogs as the messenger of Yam raj, the God of death, so the celebration is held to appease him. People across the country took part in the festival including US Ambassador Randy Berry and armed police dog handlers.

Kukur Tihar was also celebrated at Friendicoes, a dog shelter in New Delhi, India where most of the staff hail from Nepal.

Friendicoes explained the importance of the festival.

‘So today on ‘Kukur Tihar’ or the festival of dogs our staff ensured our resident dogs get their share of attention. ‘Dogs occupy a special place in Hindu mythology,” explained Friendcoes.

In every home and street, they get special treatment on this day. ‘Yama, the god of death, is believed to own two guard dogs – each with four eyes.

The dogs are said to watch over the gates of Naraka, the Hindu concept of Hell.’