Introduction

Weddings are celebrations of love, unity, and new beginnings—but how often do we consider the silent suffering that our customs can bring to animals? In this transformative episode of WedFM India, Shanaya speaks with Khushboo Gupta, Director of Advocacy Projects at PETA India. Their conversation delves deep into the unseen realities of animals in the wedding industry and offers practical ways couples and planners can create weddings that are beautiful for all beings—human and animal.

The Hidden Cruelty in Indian Wedding Traditions

Animals in Processions: The pageantry of Indian weddings often features horses in baraats and, occasionally, elephants for grand entrances. Khushboo reveals the harsh truths behind these traditions:

• Horses endure metal bits, loud music, and firecrackers that cause distress and pain.
• Elephants, kept chained and away from their natural families, are used as status symbols at the cost of their well-being.

Firecrackers & Loud Celebrations: Fireworks are festive for humans but terrifying for animals. Both stray and domestic animals suffer injuries and trauma from the noise and smoke, with PETA advocating for firecracker-free weddings.

Rethinking Dairy, Leather, and Animal By-Products

Dairy Industry: The conversation uncovers disturbing realities of the dairy sector:

• Cows and buffaloes are treated as machines, injected with substances to increase milk production, and male calves are routinely abandoned because they lack economic value.
• This leads directly to seeing stray cattle—mostly male cows—on Indian roads, a byproduct of the wedding and dairy industry.

Leather & Decor: Many wedding outfits, footwear, décor items, and even invitations use animal-derived products. Opting for cruelty-free alternatives, like vegan fashion and faux leather, significantly reduces animal suffering and supports ethical practices.

Vegan Beauty & Food in Modern Weddings

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics: Vegan, cruelty-free makeup and personal care products are becoming mainstream. Khushboo encourages couples and planners to seek out these alternatives for a wedding that is truly harmless.

Vegan Menus—Not Just a Trend: She challenges the myth that vegan food is always expensive or bland. With proper planning and education, delicious, diverse, and affordable plant-based catering can feature in any wedding—delighting guests while aligning with compassion.

Changing Mindsets: Laws, Culture & Our Responsibility

Weak Legal Protection: Animal welfare laws in India remain outdated and weak. The penalties for cruelty are shockingly low, and certain offenses—like sexual abuse of animals—are not adequately covered under new legal reforms. PETA works tirelessly to push for stricter penalties and greater awareness but faces systemic and cultural inertia.

Culture vs. Ethics: Khushboo notes India’s constitution and culture advocate compassion (Article 51A(g)), yet animals’ suffering is often sidelined in the name of tradition. She urges that kindness and ethical responsibility should drive our choices, not just in weddings, but daily life.

PETA’s Solutions & Appeals to the Industry

• Mechanical alternatives to live animals for processions, like robotic elephants, are both cruelty-free and memorable.
• Educational outreach—from VR campaigns to celebrity advocacy—helps reframe animal welfare as everyone’s concern, not a niche issue.
• Engaging wedding planners to make animal-friendly recommendations transforms industry standards at the source.

How You Can Help

Whether you’re a couple, planner, or guest, compassion is action:

• Reject live animal use for any entertainment or ritual.
• Say no to firecrackers and loud noises that harm animals (and the environment).
• Opt for vegan food, fashion, and beauty.
• Educate yourself and others about the origins and impact of wedding traditions.
• Support organizations and policies aimed at protecting voiceless beings.

Final Thoughts

A wedding can radiate love, beauty, and joy—without causing suffering. Gupta and PETA India call on the entire industry and each individual to break with harmful customs, choose conscious alternatives, and make celebrations inclusive for all sentient beings. This episode isn’t just a wake-up call; it’s a roadmap for how weddings in India—and everywhere—can become kinder, more just, and truly filled with love.