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Paws and Prayers: People Shocked as Dogs Share Puja Stage with Goddess Durga in a Ritual in Bengal

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Abhijeet

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3 min read

28 Jun, 2024

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A Ballygunge committee followed in the footsteps of several other city puja organisers who have made their celebrations pet-friendly since 2022 by including all of the neighbourhood’s pet dogs in this year's Khuti Puja, the ceremonial start to the Durga Puja preparations, on Sunday.

The 71 Palli Baishakhi Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity's puja, in its 58th year, aims to include men's and women's best friends during Bengal's largest celebration. It is overseen by a 23-member women-only committee.


Furthermore, why not? Since every day is "dog day" for this group of dog lovers, it didn't make sense to exclude our four-legged friends from the festival. Priyadarshini Sarkar, a club member and proud owner of a Shih Tzu, said, "We feed strays, help adopt strays and even gave them shelter during Cyclone Remal." Sarkar added, “In our locality, there are many pets, including Labradors, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Indies and local strays, who were brought to the Khuti Puja.”


Club secretary Nandini Chatterjee said, “The idea was unique and everyone welcomed it.” It was the ideal chance for Ahana Patra, who lives on Ballygunge's Moni Mukherjee Road, to spend the day with her pet. It was the ideal chance for Ahana Patra, who lives on Ballygunge's Moni Mukherjee Road, to spend the day with her pet. “I visited with my pet Dhabal Chand, a three-year-old Labrador, and we both enjoyed it”, she remarked.


Usha Uthup inaugurated the theme banner of the puja. Last year, Bidhan Sarani Atlas Club in north Kolkata became the first to do this with their theme "Shelter for Pets." In their pandal, stray dogs replaced the usual demon figure ("Asur") and were depicted at the feet of Goddess Durga, symbolically seeking a home. The puja inauguration even had police dog squad members as the chief guests. Building on this success, the club organized a free pet check-up camp last year and provided nutrient-rich pet food for visitors' furry companions. "The idea was a big hit," said Biswajit Ghosh, the club's general secretary, "and other puja organizers, including some Jagaddharti Puja organizers in Chandernagore, followed suit." The pet-friendly trend is spreading. Prominent clubs like Behala Club in south Kolkata and Salkia Chatra Bayam Samity in Howrah have also embraced it recently.


Animal rights activist actress Debashree Roy expressed her joy about the initiative. "It's heartwarming," she said, "and I hope it raises awareness to reduce animal cruelty. Just a few years ago, many puja committees would ask the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to remove stray dogs from their venues. We fought hard against that." Sociologist Prashanta Roy sees a positive message. "This approach is great," he said. "It sends a strong message about building strong bonds with animals."


Indologist Niladri Sankar Bandyopadhyay agrees. "Dogs are often seen as loyal companions in Hindu mythology," he explained. "Even the Mahabharata portrays their unwavering loyalty, staying by your side even when everyone else is gone. These initiatives will strengthen that age-old belief and connection."

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