When a FESTIVAL took away a HOME

For years, the open field at the edge of town had been more than just a patch of land. To most people, it was a vacant ground, sometimes used for fairs, sports, or community events. But for one silent resident, it was home. Beneath the blue sky, with the warm sun in the day and the cool stars at night, he had built his small, quiet life there.

He was not a man, nor a tenant. He was a street dog. He spent his days watching children play from a safe distance, stretching lazily in the sun, and curling up to sleep under the stars. He never asked for food, never harmed anyone, and only wanted one thing — a little space to exist.

But last week, everything changed. Preparations for a local festival began. Tents were set up, decorations went up, and loudspeakers filled the air. Along with the music and lights came a different sound — the angry shouts of people. They did not want him there. They said he might bite.

When some asked for proof — a medical record, a doctor’s note, or even a single complaint from the past — there was none. Still, they chased him away. Sticks were raised, voices grew louder, and the ground that had been his safe place for years was no longer his.

As the festival began, the crowd danced, the drums played, and the lights glittered over the field. But somewhere, hidden in the dark corner of an alley, the dog lay curled up, trembling. The open space he once called home was now filled with noise and strangers. His place in the world had been taken away without reason.

Animal lovers from the People for Animals (PFA) Sikkim expressed deep concern over the incident. “The truth is, he did nothing wrong. The problem is not with him, but with us. We forget that this earth is not ours alone,” said Alisha Rai, a member of the organisation.