Avika Gor, who is currently busy with back to back projects down South, is excited to spend some quality time with her family members and pet dog Shiroo in Hyderabad. Taking out some time from her hectic schedule, she will be bringing in Gujarati new year with her loved ones. 

In an exclusive chat with PeepingMoon, Avika opened up about her Diwali plans. She said, "I will be in Hyderabad with my family and dog Shiroo. We actors don't generally get enough time to spend with our families so I would like to cherish that this year."

Avika, who never hosted nor attended Diwali parties, shared, "For me, Diwali is always with family. Being a Gujarati, I go to meet my relatives to wish them Saal Mubarak. I would love to be a part of parties in future, but right now it is better to stay safe."

As a child, Avika would celebrate Diwali with rangoli and lots of mithai. "My Diwalis would be about making rangolis, eating a lot of junk especially mithai, dressing up, getting gifts from relatives. Now, my pet Shiroo is in my life so I don't burst crackers. He is not very comfortable with that," she added. 

Talking about cracker-free Diwali, Avika said, "Cracker-free Diwali is something I have been doing for many years. It is not only about the strays or pets but also humans. There are old people, infants and not everybody is comfortable with the sound and pollution it causes. I don't encourage crackers and I don't think I ever will." 

She further stated that she tries her best to explain to her relatives the importance of going eco-friendly during Diwali. "Every year, we hear people telling us to follow rules, but a section of people don't really believe in this. There are people in my family who go for crackers. I do my best to explain them but at the end of the day, it is what they think is right. We are already facing so many issues, especially COVID-19. We cannot further cause harm to the environment," she shared.