This story is part of “Parenting: What Google Won't Tell You” — The Better India's people-led parenting series that goes beyond conventional advice to document how real families are actually raising their children.

Through real parents, parenting coaches, influencers and experts, the series brings honest, diverse and relatable perspectives on the questions, choices, challenges and solutions that shape everyday parenting — the things Google can't always answer.

Advertisment As the evening sky turns dark, little diyas begin to flicker along balconies and windowsills.

Inside one Faridabad home, the preparations for Diwali are a little different.

Three-year-old Rishaan Garg Batra is getting ready to celebrate with his parents, Neha Garg and Siddhant Batra, and his four furry siblings, the family's dogs.

There are diyas to light, a family photograph to take, friends and relatives to meet, games to play and , of course, plenty of good food to look forward to.

Advertisment Add The Better India As A Trusted Source There is one thing missing from the celebrations, though: firecrackers.

There is also no last-minute rush to buy new clothes or festive decorations.

Growing up with four furry siblings, three-year-old Rishaan is learning why firecrackers can frighten animals and harm the environment.

Advertisment For Neha, a podcaster, writer and brand strategist, and Siddhant, an IT and sports entrepreneur, Diwali has always been about the simple joys of being together.

The couple has never been particularly drawn to loud celebrations or the idea of buying something new for every occasion.

Over the years, they have built their own little traditions around the festival of lights, and now they are bringing up Rishaan with the same understanding.

For Rishaan, this is what Diwali looks like: a few lights, familiar faces, meals shared with loved ones and memories made together.

2 childhood experiences that changed how they celebrate Diwali Neha and Siddhant had each grown uncomfortable with firecrackers long before becoming parents, though for different reasons.

Advertisment Siddhant's turning point came when his sister spoke to him about child labour associated with the manufacture of firecrackers.

The two siblings decided to stop bursting them around Grades 5 or 6.

Eventually, the rest of the family also adopted a low-noise Diwali.

Neha, on the other hand, grew up in a large joint family where firecrackers were an important part of the festivities.

Every year, a huge stock would be purchased and divided among the different family units, with each child receiving their share.

But she was never particularly fond of them.

"I just didn't like the loudness and the cloud of smoke that is left behind after we burst them,” she recalls.

Advertisment Something else stayed with her, too.

Her mother suffered from severe allergies because of the smoke.

While the rest of the family went upstairs to burst crackers, her mother would often remain in the kitchen, coughing and struggling with the fumes.

From reusing festive outfits to skipping unnecessary shopping, Neha and Siddhant are teaching their son that celebrations need not come with new purchases.

"Seeing her, I would feel really triggered, and I would always wonder, why are we doing this if this is making her so uncomfortable?” says Neha.

Instead of joining the others, she would stay back with her mother and help prepare the elaborate Diwali meal.

As they grew older, both began to understand the wider consequences of the practice, from air and noise pollution to the distress it causes animals.

Being dog lovers, the latter was particularly difficult for them to overlook.

When they eventually came together as a couple, not bursting firecrackers was simply something they agreed on.

'90% of our kid's wardrobe is preloved pieces' Another thing that Neha and Siddhant have never associated with festivals is shopping.

Despite growing up in very different family settings, both had similar ideas about buying new clothes for special occasions.

For Neha, weddings were when new clothes were usually purchased.

With several weddings taking place in her extended family, there were always outfits that could be reused for festivals.

Siddhant, too, never really understood the idea that every festival had to come with a new wardrobe.

In fact, he would find it difficult to relate to school essays that described buying new clothes as an essential part of festive celebrations.

Today, the couple follows the same approach at home.

“We wear clothes we already own, restyle outfits and avoid shopping simply because a festival is around the....