Festival of dogs to promote coexistence in Bengaluru on October 17

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is set to celebrate Kukur Tihar festival, also known as festival of dogs, on Oct 17. The event aims to appreciate the presence and contributions of dogs in the ecosystem, while promoting awareness about their positive roles in society.
Partnering with Sahavarthin Animal Welfare Trust and other entities, BBMP's animal husbandry department is rolling out various initiatives under the banner of #BiteFreeLocality.These initiatives aim to create ‘coexistence champions', who will work towards building a humane environment for animals. The focus extends beyond animal birth control and vaccinations, emphasising the importance of understanding animal behaviours and accepting them as part of nature. "While dogs are often viewed with fear due to concerns over bites and attacks, the festival will spotlight their loyalty, obedience, protectiveness, and companionship. The initiative seeks to change the narrative by celebrating the positive roles dogs play in society, encouraging residents to share their heart-warming stories and experiences with street dogs," said Suralkar Vikas Kishor, special commissioner (welfare), BBMP.
BBMP will also initiate a pilot project on the same day, enlisting pourakarmikas from four wards to assist in feeding community dogs. By coordinating with local restaurants, they will ensure leftover food is distributed to street dogs.
Call to be volunteers
Residents interested in participating in these initiatives as volunteers can register by scanning a QR code provided by BBMP. Registrations are open until Oct 15. For enquiries, dial 1533.