Eco-Friendly as Well as Animal-Friendly": Writer and Creator Ishika Shahi Reflects on Celebrating a Conscious Diwali

As the dust settles on this year’s Diwali celebrations, the conversation naturally turns toward how consciously the festival of lights was observed—and whether enough is being done to protect both the environment and animals. Writer and creator Ishika Shahi believes that while awareness has grown over the years, society still has a long road ahead when it comes to truly mindful festivities.

Why Silence Alone Isn’t Enough

Acknowledging that more individuals are willingly giving up fireworks, Ishika points out that the sheer volume of crackers still being burst remains deeply concerning:

"I do believe Diwali celebrations have become more conscious and sensitive towards animals over the years, because there are actually some people who have completely given up on bursting crackers. But it is not enough. The number of people who are still bursting crackers is so, so insensitive. It is the most selfish thing for a person to do because you absolutely do not care about how pollution is harming the people around you and how scared dogs, cats and birds get. It completely defeats the purpose of Diwali being good over evil."

Even low-noise or supposedly "safer" fireworks fail to convince her, as they still degrade air quality:

"Even something that does not make noise is still not good. Why are we adding to the AQI? So many people are getting sick because of pollution, and we are just adding to it for no good reason other than the fact that we want to see some sparkles in the sky."

A Call for Stricter Rules—and Voluntary Change

Speaking on the need for stronger regulations within residential societies and public spaces, Ishika supports a complete ban on firecrackers, though she wishes empathy rather than enforcement drove the shift:

"We should not even be bursting crackers in societies or on the roads or anywhere. I would definitely be all in for completely banning firecrackers. I just wish we didn't have to ban them. I wish people would do it from their own will."

Rediscovering the True Spirit of Diwali

For Ishika, the joy of Diwali has never depended on fireworks. Instead, she advocates returning to warm, traditional ways of coming together:

"Some simple ways people can celebrate Diwali are to light diyas and celebrate through get-togethers, gatherings, food and drinks. Anything works where pollution is not getting worse and animals are not getting harmed. I think any other way would be a very simple and beautiful way to celebrate Diwali."

Concluding with a heartfelt reminder to include voiceless creatures in our festive joy, she urges everyone to celebrate with empathy:

"We should always be compassionate towards animals, especially during these festivities, to let them know that they are also a part of this occasion. We should definitely not be selfish in that zone. Eco-friendly as well as animal-friendly, to ensure everybody is happy during a festival that makes us happy."