This Festive Season, Celebrate A ‘Festival Of Kindness’ – Delicious Sweets Without Ghee Or Milk.

New Delhi, Delhi, 9th of November, 2026 : The festive season is about light triumphing over darkness, and at its very core lies the spirit of non-violence. A vegan celebration does not mean fewer celebrations. It means keeping all the traditions alive – diyas, rangoli, sweets, new clothes, and family gatherings – while removing the things that cause suffering to animals.

According to Veganuary’s guide, the biggest changes happen in three places – in the kitchen (ghee, milk and khoya), in the puja thali (panchamrit, honey, silk), and in the celebration itself (firecrackers, gifts, decoration).

Prashant Vishwanath, India Director, Veganuary, says, “The festive season can be fun and joyful not just for you, but also for your pets. You can make it inclusive for everyone’s food preferences and help millions of animals suffering on farms. A plant-based festive season is a happy festive season for all.”

Hidden Animal Products in Sweets and Puja

1. Ghee and Khoya – The base of most sweets like barfi, peda, gulab jamun. Even besan laddoo has ghee. Swap: Use coconut oil, cashew paste.
2. Panchamrit – Made with milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar. Swap: Use plant milk and jaggery.
3. Ghee Diyas – Swap: Light diyas with mustard or sesame oil.
4. Shankh, Silk, Pearls – All come from animals. Swap: Use bells, cotton clothes, glass beads.
5. Candles – Made from beeswax. Swap: Use soy or coconut wax candles.
6. Packaged Snacks – May contain whey, milk solids, gelatin and shellac. Swap: Read every label carefully.
7. Firecrackers – Terrify street dogs, cows and birds. Many get burnt or stop eating. Swap: Light up with diyas, lanterns and fairy lights.

Decoration, Clothes and Gifts

Rangoli is already vegan. Made with rice flour, flower petals, turmeric and coloured rice, it becomes food for ants and birds by morning. Just avoid shiny synthetic powders.

This festive season, skip firecrackers and decorate with clay diyas, paper lanterns and lights. Keep pets indoors and keep water and a safe corner for street dogs and cats.

For clothes, cotton and handloom are best. Instead of leather, choose cloth, canvas or rubber shoes and bags.

For gifts, give homemade oil-based sweets, fruit baskets, roasted dry fruits, a potted plant, hand-painted diyas. For cosmetics, look for the Cruelty-Free label.

Visiting Someone’s Home? Keep This in Mind

Carry something everyone can eat. Dry fruits, fruit basket, dark chocolate (check for milk), vegan sweets or homemade laddoos made in oil. Avoid gifting silk, leather and wool, along with honey and dairy hampers. Ask before bringing firecrackers.

Hosting a Vegan Guest?

No need to change the entire menu. Make dal tadka, one sabzi and puris in oil. Watch out for cream in gravy, curd in raita, butter on roti and milk in tea. For tea, keep lemon-ginger black tea or oat-soy milk. For sweets, fruits, dates or dark chocolate are enough.

3 Vegan Sweets You Can Make at Home

1. Besan Laddoo – Roast 120 gm besan in 80 gm coconut oil on low flame for 15-20 minutes, then add sugar and cardamom and make laddoos.
2. Coconut Laddoo – Boil coconut milk and sugar for 5 minutes, then add coconut and cook for 10-12 minutes and make laddoos.
3. Gajar Halwa – Roast carrots in coconut oil, cook in oat or almond milk for 25-30 minutes, then add sugar and cardamom. For kheer, cook rice in coconut or cashew milk with jaggery. Use tofu instead of paneer.

You don’t need to get everything perfect in one year. Start with the biggest changes – ghee-free sweets, oil diyas and a cracker-free celebration. A festive season where no animal has to pay the price can still be full of light, sweetness and loved ones.