Lucknow, Oct 17 (IANS) Animals in the Lucknow zoo enjoyed a Diwali feast Saturday with Kesari Kheer, roasted dry fruits, tandoori chicken, fruit salad, fruit juices and other mouth-watering recipes.
On the occasion of the festival of lights, the zoo authorities have come up with a special diet for the animals, an official said.

“The special diet has been prepared taking into account the food habits of the animals,” zoo director Renu Singh told IANS.

“I will feed the animals with my own hands on the occasion as we have decided to pamper them with special diets,” she added.

According to officials, for the special Diwali feast, the bears will be provided with a delicious bowl of kesari kheer, while the monkeys will be fed roasted dry fruits.

Carnivores including tigers will enjoy tandoori chicken. Bananas mixed with fruit salad have been reserved for the herbivores, including giraffes, deer and elephants.

Visitors have appreciated the initiative taken by the zoo authorities for planning the special diet for the animals on Diwali.

“It would be really good as animals would get a chance to get special treatment on the festival. In fact, such special diets should be given to the animals on every festival,” Geetanjali Sinha, who lives near the zoo, told IANS.

Meanwhile, an anti-cracker campaign is being carried out at the main gate of the zoo.

“We are appealing to people not to burst crackers within the zoo and outside it,” said Singh.

“Any person caught bursting crackers within the zoo will be punished under the Wildlife Protection Act,” she added.