The animals have vermillion powder and flowers placed on their heads

Nov 13, 2012 15:38 GMT  ·  By

The Tihar festival that takes place yearly in Nepal supposedly honors the goddess of wealth, locally known as Laxmi.

However, the police dogs and the cows that happen to be present at this event also get some more or less needed attention, meaning that the people taking part in this festival place vermillion powder and flowers on the top of their heads.

In the case of police dogs, this gesture is meant to show that people are very much indebted to them, seeing how they help keep the streets safe.

Interestingly enough, these dogs are seen as messengers of the god of death, Yamaraj. Sources say that the cows receive the same special treatment due to the fact that locals regard them as incarnations of the goddess Laxmi.