19 October,2026 09:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish Kamble
Pets are invited to dress up in their best garba fits. REPRESENTATION PICS/WRAPINFUR; iStock
You probably learnt about dogs and their heightened sense of smell all the way back in school. But did you know they can hear much better, too? Their sensitive ears make them more susceptible to loud or sudden noises. For Neerzari and Joy Mukherji of Happy Howlers, that was reason enough to start a new festive tradition in Kandivli. Pawratri, a special pet-friendly garba night, will let 200 pet dogs and cats and their parents dance away without the usual noise-related worries.
"We strongly believe that sending dogs to boarding facilities should not be the first and last option for pet parents during festivities. Canines are incredibly accommodating and often go out of their way to spend time with their parents. Unfortunately, festivals in the city are not always pet-friendly," the duo rues. Organised in collaboration with Sanket Bhatt, founder of the JeevOne Welfare Foundation, the unique celebration is set to unfold at the HRCWA Durga Puja Grounds in Kandivli East.
While pet-friendly garba nights have already caught on across cuties in Gujarat, the Mumbai-based group will take it a step further. At a time when pet parents are figuring out ways to shield their furry friends from the loud sounds of the festive season, this celebration will cut the noise out altogether. The ground will have a designated garba area where pet parents will be given wireless headphones connected to the DJ spinning garba tunes, with soothing guitar tunes setting the background score for the pets.
Neerzari (in purple) and Joy Mukherji (extreme right) with a furry friend at an inclusive Ganeshotsav last month
For a friendlier experience, the event was postponed from an earlier date to this weekend to avoid large Navratri crowds, which could overwhelm the four-legged visitors. We learnt that the venue was also shifted from a smaller space in South Mumbai to the designated Puja ground with special permission.
Just last month, the group organised pet-friendly Ganeshotsav visits across three spots in the city. "Finding pandals that would allow pets and their enthusiastic paws to explore Bappa's pandals freely was quite a challenge," says Neerzari. But three across the city - in Kandivli, Cuffe Parade and Kharghar - welcomed them. The locals were just as enthusiastic. A baker even supplied pet-friendly modaks for the visitors, we learn.
Visitors will be given headphones to tune into the garba music
The next step for the organisers is to make pet-friendly celebrations a year-round affair, with events planned around the festive calendar. The idea is close to the duo's heart, inspired by their late Pomeranian, Pearl - an outdoors and travel enthusiast. After all, every new tradition has to start somewhere.
