Pune Diwali Firecracker Rules 2026: Noisy Crackers Banned From 10 pm to 6 am, No Bursting Within 10 Metres of Roads; Call 112 to Report
Pune Police have issued Diwali 2026 firecracker rules: no noisy crackers from 10 pm to 6 am, none near roads or silence zones. PCMC is also checking stalls.
Photo: Slyronit / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 1st November 2026: With Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November, and Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November, Pune Police have put out their pre-Diwali advisory on firecrackers. Noise-making crackers cannot be burst between 10 pm and 6 am, nothing can be lit on or near a public road, and residents who spot violations have been asked to dial 112.
In Pimpri-Chinchwad, the civic body has a separate worry. The PCMC fire brigade says it has cleared only a handful of firecracker stalls so far, even though stalls usually pop up across the city in the week before Diwali.
The timing rule most people get wrong
The 10 pm to 6 am ban applies to firecrackers that make noise. Sparklers, flowerpots (anar) and other colour-based fireworks are not covered by the night-time noise restriction, but the location rules below still apply to them. The night ban comes from Supreme Court directions on noise pollution and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
So a family lighting phuljhadis in the society compound at 10.30 pm is not breaking the timing rule. A ladi (chain cracker) going off at midnight is.
Where you cannot burst crackers at all
Police have listed places where firecrackers are off-limits regardless of the time:
- On public roads, streets, lanes and footpaths, and within 10 metres of a road. This applies through the year, not only at Diwali, under the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951. Rockets and fire balloons are included.
- Within 100 metres of hospitals, educational institutions and courts, which are notified silence zones.
- Within 50 metres of an authorised temporary firecracker stall.
That 10-metre road rule rules out the old habit of lining up bombs in the middle of the lane outside a wada or building gate. In most Peth lanes and older housing colonies, a society’s inner courtyard or an open ground away from traffic is the safer choice.
Noise limits and banned products
Crackers that produce more than 125 decibels measured at a distance of 4 metres cannot be made, sold or used. Chain crackers have lower permitted limits, which go down as the number of crackers in the chain goes up. Sale of foreign-origin firecrackers is also banned under PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) instructions.
Police have asked people to buy only from licensed sellers, check that products meet safety and noise norms, and prefer green crackers, which are generally quieter and produce less smoke. Sellers have been told they cannot keep selling after their temporary licence expires, and unsold stock must go back to a licensed warehouse or wholesale dealer.
Violations can attract action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Explosives Act, 1884, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the noise rules. Police can also seize the material involved.
PCMC: stalls need a fire NOC and a pucca shop
In Pimpri-Chinchwad, the municipal corporation has told all ward offices to act against firecracker sellers who do not have a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire brigade. As reported on 26 October, the fire department had received 68 applications and approved 33, with 28 still being processed. Last year, the fire brigade issued NOCs to only 105 applicants while far more stalls operated during the festival.
Temporary NOCs are given only to shop units with a permanent RCC structure and a shutter. Tables and tents in open plots or on footpaths do not qualify. Venkatesh Durvas, deputy commissioner in charge of the PCMC fire brigade, has said ward officials were instructed in writing to carry out joint inspections and stop sales without approvals. Unauthorised sellers can have their stock seized.
Earlier, the fire department listed basic safety steps for stall owners: keep sand and water ready, allow no smoking near the stall, keep children away and avoid storing other flammable material nearby. The permit fee is between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 depending on location.
If you are buying in PCMC limits, a stall inside a proper shop is a reasonable sign it has the paperwork. A makeshift table on a roadside usually does not.
Pets, elders and air quality
Diwali nights are hard on pets, older residents and people with asthma. Smoke from crackers also adds to the city’s pollution load in the days around Lakshmi Puja; our October air quality report has the recent readings. Keeping crackers short, early and away from buildings helps everyone on the street. For puja timings and festival dates, see our Diwali 2026 calendar.
In case of burns or a fire, call 112 or the fire brigade at 101. We will update this article if Pune or Pimpri-Chinchwad police issue fresh orders before Lakshmi Puja.
Frequently asked questions
What are the firecracker timings in Pune for Diwali 2026?
Noise-making firecrackers are banned from 10 pm to 6 am. Colour-based fireworks such as sparklers and flowerpots are not covered by the night-time noise rule, but you still cannot use them on roads or in silence zones.
Can I burst crackers on the road outside my building?
No. Bursting firecrackers, rockets or fire balloons on public roads, lanes and footpaths, or within 10 metres of a road, is banned throughout the year under the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951.
How do I report illegal firecrackers or noise in Pune?
Pune Police have asked residents to dial the emergency helpline 112 to report violations such as late-night noisy crackers or firecrackers burst near roads.
Do firecracker stalls in Pimpri-Chinchwad need permission?
Yes. PCMC requires a temporary permission from the ward office and a no-objection certificate from the fire brigade. NOCs are given only to shops with a permanent RCC structure and a shutter, not open-space stalls.
