How Pune pet owners are redefining Diwali celebrations

Rucha Aphale’s family, for instance, does not burst crackers. “We have a nine-year-old labrador, Kiyara. Her first Diwali was heartbreaking as she had tears in her eyes from the loud sounds. We decided that our Diwali would be about decorating the house with diyas, do puja and avoid too many lights or noise. Kiyara enjoys sitting with us during puja and relishes her special meal, but anything flashy or loud is a big no,” says Aphale.

Arya Abhyankar, who owns a 1.5-year-old husky named Levi, says that during the noisy hours of Diwali, they keep the windows shut and play calming music. “Levi has his favourite corners where he feels safe. Since we celebrate Diwali at home with family, Levi is a part of everything, from ‘helping’ with decorations to collecting treats from everyone,” says Abhyankar.

Several pet owners say that their Diwali celebration has changed entirely after bringing a pet home. “We used to attend society functions, but now one of us always stays with Spark, our three-year-old labrador. Now we’ve started liking quieter Diwali. It feels more peaceful,” says Maitreyee Kulkarni.

For dogs and cats, loud crackers can trigger extreme anxiety leading to trembling, panting, or hiding in compact spaces. “Even a few crackers far away make him scared. It’s sad because they don’t understand what’s happening. What feels like fun for us feels like a nightmare for them,” says Harshal Jadhav who has a seven-year-old pug named Rio.

NGO Saahas will celebrate Diwali by distributing special food treats to rescue animals.

For stray animals, who are exposed to the chaos of streets, Diwali can be life-threatening. Animal welfare groups across Pune report a sharp increase in distress calls and rescue cases during the festive period.

“Animals don’t understand what firecrackers are. Their hearing is 8 to 10 times stronger than that of humans. When they hear loud noises, they panic, get disoriented and, sometimes, even develop trauma. During Diwali, our cases rise sharply, we see burn injuries and even fatalities caused by fireworks,” says Dr Niyati Bajekal, the head veterinarian at Saahas, an animal welfare NGO.

She recalls a horrific case where a firecracker was tied to a dog’s tail. “We had to amputate his tail. He was bleeding profusely. We had to sedate him as he wasn’t letting us near him. Out of fear, he didn’t eat for five days. It’s high time people stop this cruelty,” she says.

Geetanjali Taur, founder of Saahas says, “Most animals suffer during Diwali. They run out of fear of firecrackers and get hit by vehicles or enter the territory of other animals, leading to fights. The situation gets really chaotic. Here, we make sure that the shelter doors are closed and play soft music so that they feel calm. We even decorate the shelter, do their puja, and give them treats, because this little happiness is all these animals know.”

As the fear of crackers looms, some owners have begun preparing ahead of time keeping pets indoors, drawing curtains, and using soothing sounds. “I came across dog earmuffs for anxious pets, I’m planning to try those this year,” says Vaibhavi Dhodabkar who has a three-year-old indie named Amy.

The kindness extends beyond homes too. “During Diwali, there are a lot of stray cats around our area. So, we make sure they are fed and give them treats,” says Sharmika Nagarkar. “In our society, stray dogs stay in the parking area because they’re scared of the open roads. We give them old blankets and food,” adds Aphale.

While awareness around pet safety and animal welfare is improving, many feel there’s still a long way to go. Yet, as more families choose compassion over crackers, Diwali’s true light seems to shine brighter, not in the sky, but in the quiet comfort of homes and shelters where every wag and every purr is safe.

Ruta Patil is an intern with The Indian Express