Feeding pigeons sparks health, hygiene debate in Delhi

The sight of Amrish Puri feeding pigeons in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge — with his memorable call of “Aao Aao Aao” — is etched into Bollywood memory. In Delhi, however, that cinematic moment plays out every day without the actors, as flocks of pigeons gather outside temples, in Old Delhi’s narrow lanes and even around Connaught Place, where residents arrive with bags of grain and bowls of water.

For 24-year-old Suraj, this ritual is a part of his daily life. After his classes, he sets off on his scooty with a sack of grains and makes rounds of feeding spots, finally ending his day at Connaught Place’s inner circle. “I come daily to feed these little ones,” he says, tossing handfuls of corn to waiting birds. “No one has ever had an issue with it. These birds can’t speak for themselves. They’re harmless and feeding them makes me happy.”

Karan, a shopkeeper in Palika Bazaar, has been doing the same for nearly a decade. “Every day during my afternoon breaks at work, I fill up water pots and spread grains here. A lot of us market workers do this. It’s become a routine,” he says, crouching by a line of pigeons pecking at the ground.

But not everyone shares their enthusiasm. Kapila, a commuter who passes these spots daily, feels the practice has turned into a nuisance. “Feeding an animal is never wrong,” she says, recalling the day pigeon droppings ruined her shirt before a big meeting. “But their numbers are too high now. The droppings are unhygienic, the smell unbearable and doctors keep warning of health hazards. Yet people don’t listen.”

Rickshaw-puller Lakhan, who has worked around Rajghat for four decades, says it’s a sight as old as his memory. “Every day people come to feed them. No one stops them, but many complain. My passengers often cover their noses when we pass by because of the stench.”

Doctors warn that Delhi’s growing pigeon population poses not only a civic nuisance but also a significant public health risk.

“Pigeon droppings and feathers release fine particles, fungal spores, and allergens into the air,” explains Dr. Vivek Nangia, Vice Chairman & Head, Pulmonology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. “When inhaled, these can trigger asthma, worsen chronic lung diseases, and in some cases, cause life-threatening illnesses.”

Among the conditions linked to exposure is pigeon-breeder’s lung—a severe allergic lung disease that can scar tissue and even lead to respiratory failure. Fungal infections like histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis, commonly found in pigeon droppings, can be fatal for people with weakened immunity. “Overfeeding in crowded cities like Delhi only worsens the problem,” Dr. Nangia warns. “It creates overpopulation, excessive droppings, and higher risk of disease transmission.”

Although people still care too little about the health hazards. Ankur, another Delhiite spotted feeding pigeons near a temple, dismissed the health concerns altogether. “I don’t think they are harmful in any way,” he said. “We already have advanced medical facilities, so why blame these innocent birds for spreading diseases? I’ve never faced any problem, and I’ve been feeding them for as long as I can remember.”

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has also begun cracking down on the practice. Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh told The Tribune that fines of Rs 500 have been imposed on those caught feeding pigeons in public at banned sites. “Complaints do come to us,” he said. “We are putting up ‘no feeding’ boards at several sites, but the practice is hard to curb.”

He added that sweepers are instructed to keep feeding zones clean to discourage pigeons from flocking and breeding in large numbers.