Diwali Firecrackers in Mumbai: Timings, Green Crackers, Silence Zones and Licences for Cracker Shops

Diwali without crackers is unthinkable for many families, but in Mumbai bursting them is regulated by Supreme Court and Bombay High Court orders, noise rules, and police orders issued each year. Violations can lead to fines, prosecution, and disputes in housing societies. This guide explains the rules for families, societies and cracker sellers.

The rules at a glance

For families

• Burst crackers only during the permitted hours, in open spaces, away from parked vehicles, trees and buildings.
• Do not burst crackers on roads in a way that obstructs traffic, or from balconies and windows.
• Buy from licensed shops; illegal or unbranded crackers are both unsafe and unlawful.
• Keep water and sand ready, and supervise children.
• Be mindful of elderly neighbours, patients and pets; noise rules exist for their protection.

Housing societies

• A society can regulate crackers in its common areas through managing committee or general body decisions, for example limiting bursting to a particular open space and time, or prohibiting rockets.
• Such rules must apply to everyone equally.
• Damage to society property or other members’ cars from crackers can lead to civil liability and recovery by the society.
• Repeated bursting outside permitted hours can be reported to the police on 112 or 100.

See housing society rules and disputes.

For cracker sellers

1. Licence: selling fireworks requires a licence under the Explosives Act, 1884 and the Explosives Rules, 2008. Temporary licences for the Diwali season are issued subject to conditions on location, storage limits and fire safety.
2. Location: temporary stalls are usually permitted only at designated places, with spacing between stalls, fire extinguishers and sand buckets.
3. Products: stock only permitted crackers from licensed manufacturers, properly labelled.
4. Online sale: courts have restrained online sale of crackers in various orders; check the current position before selling online.
5. Apply early: licensing authorities usually invite applications several weeks before Diwali.

Penalties and accidents

• Bursting in breach of a police order can be prosecuted for disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant (Section 223 BNS) and under the noise rules.
• Causing injury or fire by negligent use can attract offences such as negligent conduct with combustible matter (Section 287 BNS) and civil liability for damage.
• Selling without a licence, or selling banned crackers, is an offence under the Explosives Act.

Frequently asked questions

Are firecrackers banned in Mumbai?

No, but they are restricted to set hours and permitted types. Check the current year’s order from the police or BMC.

Can my society ban crackers completely?

A society can reasonably regulate crackers in its common areas, including restricting them to certain places or times. A blanket rule should be passed properly and applied to all members equally.

My neighbours burst crackers after 10 pm. What can I do?

Call 112 or 100. Bursting crackers between 10 pm and 6 am is prohibited.

See also: New Year and Christmas party permissions and Navratri event permissions.

Planning ahead? See the festival permissions calendar 2026–27 for dates and when to start preparing, or all festival guides.

Related service: Festival and Event Permissions in Mumbai: Legal Guides

Consultations are by appointment. To fix a time, telephone +91 99301 50560 or send a message on WhatsApp.

This guide describes the law as understood in October 2026. Bursting hours and restrictions are fixed afresh each year by court and police orders; check the current order. It is not legal advice.