Falaq Naaz, Angad Hasija, and Mehul Vyas talk about pet-friendly Diwali!

Angad Hasija:
I believe that people who have pets or those who live around pets should be more considerate during Diwali because pets get scared easily, and they are quite sensitive. Personally, I don’t burst firecrackers at all, but if someone does, I ensure my dog is in a separate room, kept comfortably until everything is over. This way, they don’t get frightened, or I make sure someone stays with them to keep their minds distracted because pets are highly sensitive. It’s not just our pets; we should also think about stray dogs and other animals because they face even more problems during Diwali. I think the concept of bursting firecrackers should be eliminated, and if you want to follow traditions, you can do so with something like lighting lamps or diyas, which are not harmful. Using firecrackers is not healthy for anyone, including plants, so I believe it should be avoided

Falaq Naaz:
Every Diwali, there’s a lot of noise from firecrackers, and it really disturbs pets. I used to be very worried because I couldn’t find a solution. Sleeping pills are an option, but they’re not readily available, and I wouldn’t want to give them to my dogs. So, I came up with an idea. I realised that when I close all the windows and play soft music on my music system for my dogs, it calms them down. Especially on Diwali night, this helps a lot, reducing the impact of the firecracker noise on them. I believe when you have pets, if they get scared, they usually come to you for comfort. So, I think it’s essential to be with your pets that night and not leave them alone. I understand that people enjoy bursting firecrackers, but my request is to avoid inhumane actions. Firecrackers are fine, but please ensure they don’t harm others. I’ve seen stray dogs getting injured because children sometimes play with firecrackers near them or attach them to a dog’s tail. It’s crucial for parents to educate their children not to harm animals. Instead of saying ‘stop burning firecrackers,’ I believe we should teach our children and ourselves to be more mature and avoid inhumane actions.

Mehul Vyas:
We have to celebrate responsibly. We have to make sure that we try and not harm or hurt animals and pets. For me, Diwali is about lights and positivity. We light diyas and decorate the house with amazing lights.
I don’t have a pet but my friends do. I anyway celebrate Diwali keeping in mind the wellness of animals, and pets. I try to do charity and help others to have a great festival. For me, getting smiles on the faces of people is the ritual for every Diwali.