Before putting up lights or unpacking festive decorations, take a closer look at the places you normally leave untouched: storage corners, kitchen cabinets and the space behind furniture.

Inspect stored boxes before bringing them into living areas. Remove unnecessary cardboard and clutter, fix leaks, and close gaps around pipes or cabinets that could provide access or shelter. These are established pest-prevention measures recommended in the EPA’s household pest-control guidance.

Make this an early preparation task, while shelves and corners are still easy to reach. It is much easier to inspect a space before decorations and extra furniture are in place.

Sandesh, laddoo, snacks and family meals are part of the celebration. Plan where you will store, serve and clear away food, particularly on days when guests arrive throughout the afternoon and evening.

Keep food in closed containers, wipe up crumbs and spills, and place food waste in covered bins. Empty bins regularly. Removing accessible food and water is a basic part of preventing household pest problems.

A simple household routine helps: decide who will clear the dining area and check the kitchen before everyone heads out for pandal hopping.

Your festive preparations should extend beyond the living room. Check plant trays, unused buckets and folds in outdoor tarpaulins for collected water. Such containers can provide mosquito breeding sites, including surprisingly small pockets of water. The EPA’s mosquito guidance identifies these everyday items as places to watch.

For apartment residents, raise concerns about water accumulation in common areas with the maintenance team. A check of your own balcony can become part of a wider building clean-up before the celebrations.

While rearranging cupboards or bringing out stored furnishings, inspect wooden surfaces for possible termite activity. Damaged wood, mud tubes or discarded wings deserve attention. Identification matters because flying ants and termites can be confused; the EPA’s termite guide explains the distinction.

If something looks unusual, photograph it and arrange an inspection before polishing, painting or covering the area with decorations.

If treatment is needed, discuss it before your busiest hosting days. Tell the service team which rooms will be occupied, where food will be prepared and whether children or pets will be present.

Ask for preparation, re-entry and cleaning instructions specific to the treatment. Keep children and pets away from treated areas as directed, and follow product-label precautions. The EPA recommends following these safety instructions.

There is no single waiting period that applies to every pest-control service. Confirm the arrangements with your provider before booking around a family gathering.

For housing societies, restaurants, shops and Puja committees, put pest management into the event plan. Assign responsibility for food-storage checks, waste collection and reporting pest sightings. Agree on whom staff or volunteers should contact if they notice a problem.

A short checklist shared with the people running the space makes these tasks easier to remember during busy celebrations.