'Nepalese worship dogs, Indians must unite & save Delhi-NCR strays'

A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat advocated for a humane and scientific way to control Delhi-NCR's stray dog population over mass confinement in pounds, people in Nepal reminded Indians about the importance of the furry companions in human lives.

Bhagwat on Thursday stressed that all animals have the right to live. "The problem can be solved only by regulating the population of street dogs. But, it cannot be resolved by putting stray dogs in shelters,” he said.

According to Shyam Thapa, a Kathmandu-based telecom professional, Nepalese see dogs as sacred and worship the mute canines during the ritual of the Himalayan nation's five-day Kukur Tihar.

"This unique ritual during Diwali celebrates the beautiful bond between humans and dogs. We urge all Indians to unite against the Supreme Court order and save the stray dogs. Population control & community feeding will help put an end to the so-called problem," he said.

In fact, the significance of Kukur Tihar "is deeply rooted in Nepalese mythology", he said. On its second day, pet and stray dogs are honoured with garlands of flowers, given a tika and offered food.

"Nepalese worship dogs, both strays & pets, as they symbolise loyalty and ultimate protection. But it's heartbreaking to see that a vocal group in India is celebrating the top court's death sentence to strays in Delhi-NCR," said Mohanlal Bhandari, a Kathmandu-based businessman.

It may be mentioned here that dogs are also revered in Indian mythology for their loyalty and protective nature. In Mahabharat, for example, Yudhishtir refuses to go to heaven without his faithful dog by his side.

"Cutting across political and religious lines, all Indians must unite and save the strays. Putting them in pounds will lead to their deaths. And those pounds will eventually become breeding grounds for zoonotic diseases," said Neha Acharya, a Nepali student.
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