Bursting of firecrackers restricted to two hours in Puducherry on Deepavali - The HinduUpdated - November 04, 2026 08:48 pm IST - PUDUCHERRYBursting of firecrackers will be permitted only from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Puducherry. A staff arranging crackers at a shop on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Puducherry on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: KUMAR SSThe Puducherry government has stipulated that bursting of firecrackers during Deepavali celebrations should be restricted to two hours, following a directive of the Supreme Court.Accordingly, the bursting of firecrackers shall be permitted only between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., said N. Ramesh, Member Secretary of the Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC).Besides, there will be a total prohibition on bursting firecrackers at any time in silence zones, i.e., within an area of not less than 100 metres around hospitals, religious places, educational institutions, and court buildings.Urging the public to celebrate a noiseless and smokeless festival, the PPCC pointed out that firecrackers pollute the environment by causing noise and air pollution, which adversely affect human health. Firecrackers emit smoke, fine toxic dust, and harmful chemicals.Bursting of firecrackers raise the risk of aggravation of respiratory diseases, injury to the eyes and other parts of the body, impairment of hearing capacity, visual impairment, insomnia, hypertension and disorientation.The practice also causes distress to elderly persons, pregnant women, heart patients, asthma patients, infants and animals, including pets, the PPCC said.Published - November 04, 2026 07:36 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }