Siliguri (West Bengal) ,October 31: In a heartfelt celebration of animals, Animal Helpline, a prominent animal welfare organization in Siliguri, West Bengal, observed "Kukur Tihar," or the worship of dogs, at their street dog rescue center. Kukur Tihar, a sub-festival within the Hindu celebration of Diwali, recognizes the bond between humans and dogs, bestowing honor and care on them.
Throughout the day, volunteers bathed nearly a hundred rescued street dogs, adorning each with a flower garland and placing a "tikka" on their foreheads, made of red powder, rice, and yogurt. Special meals were also prepared as part of the festivities.
Priya Rudra, the founder of Animal Helpline, expressed the day's significance, stating, "It’s a special day for us, akin to Durga Puja and Kali Puja. Festivals are often focused on humans, but Kukur Tihar reminds us that animals are equally vital to our society." She urged people to be mindful of the distress caused to animals by firecrackers during Diwali celebrations.
Animal lover Smita Majumder also emphasized the importance of respecting and caring for street dogs. "We celebrated the day with immense joy and appeal to people to offer food and kindness to street dogs within their means," she said.
This celebration not only honors dogs but also raises awareness about the responsibility humans have towards the welfare and dignity of animals in society.
