The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has requested citizens to use green crackers during permitted windows to reduce pollution.
The Tamil Nadu government has permitted the bursting of firecrackers on Deepavali 2026 only during two specific one-hour windows, according to reports by The Hindu and India Today.
People may burst crackers between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the festival day.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has appealed to the public to use low-noise, less-polluting green firecrackers to protect the environment.
These restrictions have been in place since 2018, following a Supreme Court direction issued on October 23, 2018, regarding the manufacture and sale of firecrackers.
The TNPCB cautioned that firecrackers can cause hearing impairment and contribute to air, water, and land pollution.
Authorities have advised residents to hold celebrations in open areas through local welfare associations after getting permission from district administrations or local bodies.
The advisory prohibits bursting crackers in silence zones, such as near schools, hospitals, courts, and places of worship, or near fire-prone thatched huts.
The Board also requested that people avoid using series or joint crackers that produce extreme noise levels.
