Diwali is a Festival of Lights. We, Indians celebrate Diwali on the occasion of return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after defeating demon king Ravana. It symbolises the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. Thus, Diwali is celebrated with immense fervour across all the states of India, along with the rest of the world. However, along with the lights, people do use to celebrate Diwali with loud firecrackers. And because of it, this period turns out into a nightmare of fear, disorientation and physical harm for the animal and bird population. They often experience immense stress, trauma and suffering due to the noise, air pollution and chaos during this period.
Domestic animals like dogs and cats possesses far more superior sense of hearing than the humans, so the sharp and sudden sounds of the firecrackers can be painful and terrifying and can cause them to experience anxiety, fear and stress. The situation is very critical for the stray animals. It is a very common scenario to see dogs and cats running aimlessly for cover, hiding under furniture and losing their way from familiar territories. It can lead to severe accidents like hit by a vehicle or falling into pits, resulting in fractures and fatalities. Even the pet owners do often complaint about their pets refusing food and water, suffering from nervous breakdowns or severe hearing issues, lasting for days. Animal shelters do report a significant spike in admission of lost, injured or traumatized animals just after the festival is over. Apart from this, there are horrible instances of deliberate cruelty by misguided youths tying crackers to the tails or bodies of the animals for fun, which causes severe burns and injuries.
The sound of fireworks can reach up to 160 decibels, which is just like a noise from a jet engine, can cause panic and disorientation amongst all domestic, stray and wild animals. Cattles animals like cows, goats and wild animals like deer, elephants, who might be in open field or forests, are often startled by these loud noises and may flee in an erratic manner, leading to accidents and injuries. In extreme cases the noise can cause heart attack as well in weak or older animals. Loud sounds often disrupt the migratory birds from their natural flight patterns and navigation systems, often causing them to collide into buildings, trees, wires or other structures, leading to broken wings and sometimes death. Also, the unpredictable noise and flashes of firework disrupt the natural routine of the nocturnal species like the owls and bats. 
The panic causes some birds to abandon their nests, leaving eggs and young chicks vulnerable to predators. The collective panic can cause the bird flocks’ mass displacement from the urban area, which as a result will disrupt the ecological balance of that place.
Another significant threat that arises during Diwali is air pollution. Firecrackers releases toxic heavy metals and noxious gases like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxides, which also contributes to a drastic increase in particulate matter (PM2.5). Animals with sensitive respiratory system like dogs and birds can lead to asthmatic respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, weakened immune system and even premature death.
To mitigate the sufferings of animals and birds during Diwali, there have been calls from animal rights organisations and veterinarians to adopt more compassionate practices during the festival. Opting for an eco-friendly or firecracker free Diwali is the most effective step to protect the environment and animals. Educating the public about the issue and suggesting them noiseless alternatives can reduce the trauma of animals and birds. Additionally, pet owners can offer some safe, calm space and soothing music to their animals to mask the external noise. Adopting more animal friendly practices during Diwali can make the festival enjoyable for all creatures.
