Are you ready for Diwali 2026? With celebrations and Diwali fireworks planned across Auckland and beyond, this 5-day festival is set to be just as magical as ever this year. And though we all know that cats, dogs and fireworks aren’t a good mix, there are other ways to include them in the celebrations.
From pet-safe treats to safety tips, here’s our guide to having a pet-friendly Diwali 2026.
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Diwali 2026 date: When is Diwali?
In 2026, the main day of Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November. Dates can shift by a day between countries because of time zones, so it’s worth checking with your local temple or community group. The specific timing of celebrations or events may also vary depending on local customs.
Diwali is a five-day festival, and the main day of celebration, Lakshmi Puja, is the third day, which typically falls on the Amavasya (new moon) of the Hindu month of Kartika. In New Zealand, Diwali is celebrated by many communities, especially in cities like Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Christchurch.
With Guy Fawkes just days before, pets may face a week or more of fireworks this year, so it’s worth preparing early.
Cats, dogs and fireworks
Pets are terrified of fireworks for several reasons. Firstly, they’re noisy. Animals have far better hearing than we do, so the booms, whistles, and bangs from fireworks are much louder to their ears than to ours.
Secondly, they’re unpredictable. You may know the fireworks are happening because of Diwali, but your animals won’t. The noise may come during different intervals and from different directions, which is understandably frightening to pets.
If your pet is close enough to the Diwali fireworks display, they may also be alarmed by the smell. Most fireworks use black powder – a mix of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulphur. An unnatural, unfamiliar smell like this will further increase their anxiety.
All of this adds to one message in your pet’s brain: escape!
Every year, rescue organisations field loads of calls about pets going missing during fireworks festivals like Diwali 2026. Fireworks trigger your dog or cat’s fight-or-flight response. Whether it’s squirming underneath a fence or trying to scale a wall, they’ll do whatever they can to get as far away from the noise as possible – sometimes injuring themselves in the process.
How to protect them from Diwali fireworks
So, how do you make sure your animal is safe during the Diwali fireworks? The best solve, if possible, is to ensure they’re somewhere else when it’s happening. Never take your pet to a fireworks festival. If one is happening close to your home, consider dropping them off at a familiar human’s house that’s further away.
If you can’t move your animal, create a calm environment at home for them. Importantly, try to soundproof it as much as possible. Close and cover windows, curtains and blinds to help muffle the fireworks noise and flashes. Many pets will want to hide inside places like cupboards, so make sure those are accessible to them (and safe on the inside) too.
It’s also a good idea to walk your dog before dark and bring your cat inside from dusk. And if your pet is frightened, it’s okay to comfort them, just never punish fearful behaviour.
Lastly, make sure your pet can find their way home if they do bolt. Check that their microchip details are up to date on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register and that their collar has a current ID tag.
For more info on cats, dogs and fireworks, read our guide called “Fireworks, pets and keeping them safe” and watch our vlog with Dr Cath below:
Diwali 2026 treats and pets
We all love the special food and sweets that come with Diwali: kaju barfi, chakli, coconut barfi, rasmalai, sandesh, phirni, dahi bhalla, and sev-chivda. Unfortunately, these treats are high in sugar, salt and/or fat and aren’t good for dogs or cats to eat. Milk-based sweets like rasmalai and phirni can also upset their tummies.
Some treats can even be dangerous for them. Sweets that contain chocolate, xylitol, grapes, raisins or macadamia nuts, for instance, should be kept well away from your pet. The same goes for savoury snacks made with onion or garlic, which are toxic to cats and dogs. Read our list of things that can poison your pet to ensure you’re clued up on what they can and can’t eat.
With that said, there are plenty of pet-friendly Diwali snacks you can make that your furball can partake in. Why not try our pet-safe recipe below?
Pumpkin and coconut Diwali laddoos for Dogs
Ingredients
- 250 grams pumpkin, peeled and cubed (plain, no salt)
- 150 grams rolled oats
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened desiccated coconut
Steps
- Cook the pumpkin: Steam or boil 250 grams pumpkin, peeled and cubed (plain, no salt) in unsalted water until soft. Drain well, mash until smooth and let it cool completely.
- Heat the oven: Heat the oven to 170°C (150°C fan) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Make oat flour: Blitz 150 grams rolled oats in a food processor or blender until they form a fine flour.
- Mix the dough: Combine the cooled pumpkin, 1 large egg and the oat flour into a soft dough. If it’s too sticky to roll, add more oats a spoonful at a time.
- Shape the laddoos: Roll the dough into small balls about 2 cm across, then roll each in 2 tablespoons unsweetened desiccated coconut. Place on the tray, spaced slightly apart.
- Bake: Bake until firm and dry on the outside.
- Cool and store: Cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Other pet-friendly Diwali tips
Apart from keeping them away from the Diwali fireworks and food hazards, here are some other ways you can make this Diwali pet-friendly:
- Give them space from guests. Diwali is a festival where you may have many friends and family members visiting your home. This change of pace can be scary for your pet. Never force them to greet or interact with humans they don’t know. If possible, create a safe space for them away from guests so that they can hide and relax when they need to.
- Choose pet-safe rangoli. Beautiful as they are, the powder used to make decorative Diwali rangoli patterns can contain chemicals that could be harmful to your pets. Wherever possible, opt for all-natural powders like those made from rice flour. If you’re making your rangoli patterns with flower petals, avoid using daffodil, iris, tulip, azalea or hyacinth petals, as they’re all toxic to pets. Lilies are especially dangerous for cats – even a small amount of pollen can be fatal – so keep them out of your home entirely. Marigolds, a Diwali favourite, can cause a mild tummy upset if eaten, so keep arrangements out of reach. Read more about poisonous plants for dogs and cats.
- Watch the diyas and candles. Diyas, candles and lanterns light up Diwali beautifully, but open flames and curious pets don’t mix. Place them well out of reach of wagging tails and inquisitive paws, and never leave them burning unattended.
- Clear away choking hazards. Keep them away from spent fireworks, lanterns or decorations that they could swallow. Cat and dog choking claims are one of PD Insurance’s most common claim types each year, so be extra vigilant with keeping any choking hazards well away from your pets.
The Festival of Dogs
Did you know that in Nepal, and among Nepali communities in India, Hindus celebrate a five-day festival of lights called Tihar? It takes place at the same time as Diwali, and its second day, Kukur Tihar, is a special celebration for man’s best friend – the dog.
People honour dogs by decorating them with flowers, applying sandalwood paste on their foreheads, offering prayers and feeding them treats. Dogs hold a special, respected place in Hindu tradition. Read the article ‘Darling Dogs and Covetous Cats: Sacred Animals in Hinduism’ for more information.
Maybe this Diwali could be a time to volunteer at your local animal shelter. Or donate to an animal charity or put out food and water for any stray dogs in your neighbourhood.
The best gift this Diwali
Diwali fireworks remind us that our animals can be vulnerable to accidents.
PD Insurance offers a selection of dog insurance plans to help pay unexpected vet bills. That way you don’t need to worry about the cost of getting medical treatment if your pup gets into an accident or comes down with an illness. Instead you can worry about what matters most – their wellbeing.
PLUS, you can get 1 month free when you sign up. Why not get a quote today?