The state government has designated specific morning and evening slots to reduce air and noise pollution during the festival.
The Tamil Nadu government has permitted the public to burst firecrackers only during two one-hour windows on Deepavali 2026, according to reports by The Hindu, Hindustan Times and India Today. The allowed timings are 6 am to 7 am and 7 pm to 8 pm.
The state administration announced the restrictions in an official release on Tuesday to curb severe air and noise pollution. The measure aims to promote safe community celebrations while protecting the environment from land, water, and air pollution.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has launched awareness campaigns through schools, higher education institutions, Eco clubs, the National Green Corps (NGC), and district administrations. The TNPCB cautioned that firecrackers can cause hearing impairment and contribute to environmental hazards.
Following a 2018 Supreme Court judgment, the manufacture and sale of firecrackers are restricted to reduced-emission green crackers. The TNPCB has advised people to avoid series crackers that produce high noise levels.
Authorities have encouraged neighbourhood welfare associations to organise community celebrations in open spaces. Residents are prohibited from bursting crackers near silence zones, such as courts, religious buildings, schools, and hospitals, or near fire-prone thatched huts.
