MYSORE: It is common for people to mourn the death of pet animals like dogs and cats. But drivers of Saligrama village in Krishnaraj Nagar taluk have not only grieved the death of Subbulakshmi , a donkey , but also organized a mass feeding to mark the vaikunta samaradhane.A year ago, the drivers bought 2 two-month-old donkeys- a male and female- from a cattle market and reared them. As the donkeys are considered a good omen in villages, they named them as Subbu and Subbulakshmi.A fortnight ago, Subbulakshmi was hit by a private bus.Drivers association members, who reared the donkeys and fed them daily with buns and two litres of milk, tried to save it. Subbulakshmi succumbed to injuries on March 30. Drivers conducted poojas and rituals before burying the donkey in front of the association’s office.On Tuesday, they organized vaikuntasamaradhane where they fed people. The menu for the occasion included payasam, puliogare, chitranna, mosaranna, papad, and vade. A couple of drivers also tonsured their heads. More than thousand people were fed at a specially erected shamiana.Drivers' association president Kotwal Manju said they reared the donkeys like their sons and daughters and were the most loved ones in the village.Subbulakshmi’s death came as a shock to us,''he said adding that they spent more than Rs 30,000 for the event.