Family in Odisha Mourns Pet Fish of 20 Years, Performs Last Rites in Rare Farewell

Bhubaneswar: In a quiet neighborhood of Odisha’s Balasore town, grief has taken an unusual but very human form. A family is mourning not a person, but a fish that lived with them for more than 20 years and was cherished as a member of the household.

The fish, a giant gourami, had shared an extraordinary two-decade bond with the Sanjay Das family. Brought from Jamshedpur 20 years ago as a small, two-centimeter fish, under the family’s care it has grown into a majestic creature, almost a meter long and weighing about four kilos.

Over the years, gourami began to become intertwined with the rhythms of daily life. Family members say he responds when called and eats directly from their hands, a behavior more commonly associated with mammals than fish. “He wasn’t just a pet,” a family member said. “I felt like one of us.”

The fish recently died after living for nearly 20 years and four months, leaving the household visibly shaken. This loss was especially hard for a young boy in the family who grew up with the Pisces and considered him a constant companion.

Refusing to face death indifferently, the family chose to say goodbye with dignity and emotion. Instead of getting rid of the body, they performed the last rites. The fish were buried in soil placed in a tray on the roof of their house, and a rose bush was planted on top as a living monument to their bond. The family continues to care for the plant, saying it helps keep memories alive.

“The event has sparked interest beyond the household and highlighted the often overlooked emotional connections people can form with animals, even those without fur or feathers. In a world where pets are increasingly viewed as family, the Das family’s farewell stands as a poignant reminder that love and loss are not defined by species,” said local development activist and journalist Sudam Patra.