A Faridabad family reimagines Diwali without firecrackers or new clothes

Neha Garg and Siddhant Batra are raising their three-year-old son, Rishaan Garg Batra, in Faridabad, India, by teaching him to celebrate Diwali without using firecrackers or purchasing new outfits.

The couple prioritizes mindful traditions over loud celebrations and material consumption. They focus on shared meals, family games, and communal prayers to define the festival of lights. The couple chose to move away from traditional firecrackers due to personal experiences.

Siddhant stopped using them in primary school after learning about child labor in the industry. Neha avoided them because the smoke caused her mother severe respiratory distress. They also consider the welfare of their four dogs, who are frightened by loud noises and pollution. Instead of fireworks, the family spends the holiday visiting relatives and playing games like Tambola and Dumb Charades. To reduce waste, the parents avoid the rush to buy new festive clothes.

They restyle existing outfits and encourage others to give Rishaan preloved items. Nearly 90 per cent of the boy's wardrobe consists of secondhand pieces. The family also maintains a ritual of taking an annual photograph that includes their current pets and pictures of three dogs who have passed away. Neha and Siddhant explain the logic behind these choices to their son so he can make his own mindful decisions as he grows older.