In parts of Tamil Nadu, Diwali comes with an unusual rule: leave the firecrackers out. The reason hangs upside down in the trees.

Hundreds of bats roost in village banyans and tamarinds. Rather than drive them away, residents have built traditions around protecting them. In some places, the custom is tied to a sacred tree or local deity. In others, it began with families feeding the animals.

The stories are different, but the relationship is striking. These villagers do not see the bats as pests to chase away. They see them as neighbours, guests or even protectors, and have learnt to celebrate Diwali around their presence.

The night shift that keeps nature growing

When fruit bats leave their roosts after sunset, they begin a nightly journey in search of fruit and nectar. Their work, however, extends well beyond finding food.

As bats eat fruit, they disperse seeds across the landscape, helping plants regenerate in places where seeds might otherwise never reach. By feeding on nectar, some also pollinate flowers. These activities support the growth of trees and vegetation, which in turn provide food and shelter for other wildlife.

Their daytime roosts are just as important. Large colonies often gather in the same trees, returning to familiar resting places after a night of foraging. Sudden, loud firecracker bursts and flashes of light can alarm bats and disturb their roosting behaviour. Repeated disturbance may cause them to abandon a tree and seek another place to rest.

For the villages that share their landscape with these animals, keeping Diwali quiet is a simple way to reduce that disturbance.

The family that climbed a tree to feed bats

In Kazhuperumpakkam, near Vanur in Villupuram district, the story began with a tamarind tree. Families noticed........

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