Agartala, Oct 18: Amid the huge crowds of pandal-hoppers thronging Durga Puja celebrations in Tripura’s capital on Saptami evening, a family caught the attention of visitors by bringing along its pet dog, Aimee, to a community puja pandal that welcomed pets.
As devotees visited elaborately decorated pandals to worship Maa Durga, whose traditional imagery includes a lion as her mount, the family’s presence with Aimee offered a gentle reminder that compassion for animals can also be part of the festive spirit.
Rajarshi Choudhary, accompanied by his wife Suchanda and mother, said Aimee was joining them for pandal-hopping in Agartala for the third time. The family had also taken her earlier to see Durga Puja pandals in Bengaluru.
“I feel like all animals should be part of the ecosystem that we live in. It is high time we acknowledge that animals make up the society we live in and become a little more compassionate towards them,” Choudhary said, describing the outing as a small personal effort towards that goal.
He also encouraged people to adopt Indian-breed dogs, popularly known as Indies, saying even one adoption could make a difference.
Suchanda said the family considered Aimee an integral part of their lives and did not want to leave her alone at home during the festive outing.
“When we go out for pandal-hopping and leave her alone at home, we feel that she is also alone and that makes us sad. She has become a part of our family, so we feel she should also get a chance to come with us,” she said.
Describing the emotional bond they shared with Aimee, Suchanda said spending time with the dog helped the family cope with everyday stress and brought them happiness.
She also stressed the need to encourage people, particularly children, to develop a more compassionate attitude towards animals.
“Even I was afraid when I first got Aimee. But gradually, my thinking changed. I realised they are not what I had thought before. Having a pet at home is like having a child,” she said.
Suchanda said parents could play an important role in helping children overcome their fear of dogs by teaching them to treat animals with kindness and respect.
Beyond pet ownership, she urged people to extend care to stray animals by feeding them and showing concern for their welfare.
The family’s visit also highlighted the significance of pet-friendly public celebrations, where organisers make space for responsible participation by people accompanied by their animals.
For many visitors, Saptami is an occasion to enjoy the artistic themes, lights and decorations of Durga Puja. For Aimee’s family, the evening carried an additional message: the festival’s spirit of compassion can extend beyond human relationships to the animals that share our lives and neighbourhoods.
Their appeal was simple — adopt rather than overlook, treat animals with kindness, and consider Indian-breed dogs when welcoming a pet into the family.
