Tamil Nadu sets two-hour windows for firecracker bursting on Deepavali 2026
The state administration announced specific morning and evening time slots to reduce air and noise pollution during the festival.
The Tamil Nadu government has designated specific two-hour periods for the public to burst firecrackers during Deepavali 2026, according to a Hindustan Times report.
The permitted timings are from 6 am to 7 am and from 7 pm to 8 pm. An official release on Tuesday stated that these windows aim to curb air and noise pollution while promoting safe, community-wide celebrations.
The state administration appealed to residents to choose environment-friendly practices instead of high-decibel or smoke-emitting fireworks to protect the environment. The initiative seeks to mitigate hazards such as air, water, and land pollution, alongside noise-induced hearing damage.
Following a 2018 Supreme Court judgment, the manufacture and sale of fireworks are restricted to reduced-emission green crackers. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) is conducting awareness campaigns through schools, higher education institutions, Eco clubs, and district administrations to ensure compliance.
Authorities have advised neighbourhood welfare associations to host community fire-cracking events in open spaces. The advisory also prohibits the use of joint or series crackers due to noise spikes.
Bursting crackers near silence zones, including hospitals, courts, religious structures, and educational institutions, or near fire-prone thatched huts, remains strictly prohibited.