Quick answer: Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. In Gujarat, cracker rules are set city by city by police commissioners and district magistrates, following a state Home Department circular. The 2026 orders we found so far, for Rajkot and Bharuch, allow crackers on Diwali only from 8 PM to 10 PM, and only green crackers. As of 25 October 2026 no 2026 order found for Ahmedabad or Surat; expect them to follow the same pattern, but wait for the notice.

Part of: Diwali 2026 cracker rules by state

Status as of 25 Oct 2026What we found
2026 state orderNo new 2026 Gujarat Home Department circular found. In 2025 the department told district magistrates and police commissioners to issue local orders under its 3 November 2018 circular (Gujarat News Desk, 14 October 2025).
AhmedabadAs of 25 October 2026 no 2026 order found from the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner. The fire department has tightened rules for cracker stalls (GSTV, 24 October 2026).
SuratAs of 25 October 2026 no 2026 order found from the Surat Police Commissioner.
Rajkot (2026 order)Green crackers only; 8 PM to 10 PM on Diwali and Dev Diwali; 11:55 PM to 12:30 AM in the New Year festival; in force 29 October to 25 November 2026 (reported by ETV Bharat Gujarat on 24 October 2026).
Bharuch (2026 order)8 PM to 10 PM only; 100 m silent zones; no crackers on public roads or near petrol pumps (reported by Connect Gujarat on 22 October 2026).
Diwali 2026Sunday 8 November 2026.

Gujarat Diwali 2026 firecracker rules at a glance

  • Timing: 8 PM to 10 PM on Diwali in every 2026 order we found (Rajkot, Bharuch), and in the state guideline used in 2025.
  • Type: green crackers only. No barium, no joined "series" or loom-type crackers, no foreign or Chinese crackers.
  • Where: not in markets, on public roads, near petrol, CNG and LPG pumps or gas godowns, and not within 100 metres of hospitals, schools, courts and places of worship.
  • Shops: only licensed shops; no online sales.
  • Sky lanterns: banned in the 2026 Rajkot and Bharuch orders.

Firecracker timings in Gujarat (fatakda fodvano samay)

Rajkot, 2026: the Rajkot Police Commissioner's notification allows crackers from 8 PM to 10 PM during Diwali, Dev Diwali and other festivals, and from 11:55 PM to 12:30 AM during the New Year festival. ETV Bharat Gujarat reported on 24 October 2026 that it is in force from 29 October to 25 November 2026. (Official text not independently checked by HinduTone.)

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Bharuch district, 2026: the Additional District Magistrate's notification under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 and the Gujarat Police Act allows crackers only from 8 PM to 10 PM (Connect Gujarat, 22 October 2026). (Official text not independently checked by HinduTone.)

Ahmedabad and Surat: as of 25 October 2026 we found no 2026 notification. In 2025 Gujarat's Home Department guideline said crackers on Diwali and other festivals may be burst only from 8 PM to 10 PM, and on Christmas and New Year only from 11:55 PM to 12:30 AM (Gujarat News Desk, 14 October 2025). That is history, not the 2026 rule, but city orders in Gujarat have followed it closely. (Official text not independently checked by HinduTone.)

These hours match the Supreme Court's national default of 8 PM to 10 PM. The Noise Rules separately forbid sound-emitting crackers between 10 PM and 6 AM.

Green crackers only in Gujarat

The Rajkot 2026 order, as reported, says the Supreme Court has allowed only green and approved low-emission crackers, bans all other crackers, bans heavy-noise and joined crackers, bans foreign crackers, bans online sales on e-commerce websites, and bans barium in crackers. It also says only crackers marked by PESO and within the noise limit of 125 dB(AI) or 145 dB(C)pk at 4 metres may be sold and used. That noise limit is the national standard under the Environment (Protection) Rules. (Official text not independently checked by HinduTone.)

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  • Scan the CSIR-NEERI QR code on the box before you pay.
  • Avoid loom ("lum") and series crackers, which are banned.
  • Do not buy imported or Chinese crackers; their import, storage and sale are banned.

The national baseline: what applies everywhere in India

Whatever Gujarat announces for 2026, a few national rules apply across India. HinduTone read these in the original texts:

  • Green crackers only. In Arjun Gopal v. Union of India (judgment of 23 October 2018), the Supreme Court allowed only "improved" and "green" crackers with reduced emissions, and directed that sale be only through licensed traders. CSIR-NEERI (the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) developed the green-cracker formulations and registers manufacturers; genuine green crackers carry the CSIR-NEERI green logo and a QR code.
  • Barium salts and joined crackers banned. The same judgment banned barium salts in fireworks and banned the manufacture, sale and use of joined firecrackers ("series crackers" or "laris").
  • No online sales (2018 direction). The 2018 judgment told e-commerce websites not to accept online orders for firecrackers.
  • The 8 to 10 PM default. Direction (xiv) of the 2018 judgment limited bursting on Diwali and similar festivals to 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve to 11:55 PM to 12:30 AM, and said this applies throughout India. Some states have asked for, and announced, different two-hour windows; where a state has issued its own order, follow that order.
  • Night-time noise limit. Rule 5A(2) of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 (added in 2010) says sound-emitting firecrackers shall not be burst in a silence zone or during night time, which rule 2(j) defines as 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
  • Silence zones. Under the same rules, an area of not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions and courts may be declared a silence zone by the state government.
  • Police responsibility. The 2018 judgment made the local police responsible for ensuring that fireworks happen only at the permitted times and that banned crackers are not sold, with the Station House Officer personally answerable for violations.

Read the texts: Supreme Court judgment of 23 October 2018 (PDF) and Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, CPCB consolidated text (PDF).

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2026: the Supreme Court is hearing the issue again. On 30 September 2026 a bench said it would neither impose a complete ban nor allow round-the-clock fireworks, and would look for "specified time" windows; the Centre also asked it to consider a conditional relaxation for CSIR-NEERI's "next-generation joined green crackers" with reduced barium (reported by DT Next, from PTI, on 30 September 2026). On 12 October 2026 the Chief Justice's bench, hearing the Delhi-NCR pollution case, favoured designated hours and public awareness (reported by The New Indian Express on 13 October 2026). Official texts were not independently checked. As of 25 October 2026 HinduTone found no new order changing the 2018 directions on timings, barium or joined crackers; if the court issues one before Diwali, it will override what is written here.

In October 2025 the Supreme Court (M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, order of 15 October 2025) again allowed only NEERI-approved green crackers for Delhi-NCR, and noted cases where green-cracker QR codes had been sold to unregistered makers. That order was specific to Delhi-NCR, but it is a useful warning everywhere: scan the QR code and buy only from a licensed shop. (Supreme Court order of 15 October 2025, PDF.)

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How Gujarat issues its cracker rules

Gujarat does not usually publish one statewide timing order. Instead, the Home Department sends a circular based on the Supreme Court's directions, and each district magistrate or police commissioner issues a prohibitory notification (jaahernaamu) under Section 163 of the BNSS. The 2025 report said the Home Department's circular of 3 November 2018 is still in force and asked districts to issue orders quickly and report back (Gujarat News Desk, 14 October 2025). (Official text not independently checked by HinduTone.)

So the rule that applies to you is the notification of your city's police commissioner (Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot) or, outside these cities, your district magistrate.

Shops and licences

Selling crackers needs a licence under the Explosives Rules, 2008. In the cities, temporary Diwali stall licences are issued by the police commissionerate's licence branch after document checks and a fire NOC; elsewhere by the district administration.

  • Ahmedabad, 2026: after a firecracker factory blast that killed eight people in July 2026 (TV9 Gujarati, 18 July 2026), the city fire department made tin-sheet sheds compulsory for stalls instead of cloth tents, inspected 73 sites and gave final NOCs to 22 applicants by 24 October (GSTV, 24 October 2026). (Official text not independently checked by HinduTone.)
  • Rajkot, 2026: applications for temporary stalls were made at local police stations, and the licence branch will issue licences after document checks (ETV Bharat Gujarat, 24 October 2026). (Official text not independently checked by HinduTone.)
  • Online: online sale of crackers is banned.

Police jurisdictions: Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot

  • Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad City Police Commissionerate (city); Ahmedabad Rural police and the district magistrate outside city limits.
  • Surat: Surat City Police Commissionerate (city); Surat district (rural) has its own district magistrate orders.
  • Vadodara and Rajkot: their city police commissionerates.
  • Other districts: the district magistrate, as in Bharuch.

We do not have separate city pages. In an emergency call 112.

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Silent zones and places where crackers are banned

The 2026 Rajkot order, as reported, treats a 100-metre radius around courts, hospitals, schools, colleges, places of worship and the airport as a silent zone where no crackers may be burst, and bans crackers in markets, streets, public roads, near petrol, CNG and LPG pumps, gas storage and godowns with flammable goods. The Bharuch order has similar limits. (Official text not independently checked by HinduTone.)

Housing societies and pols

  • Choose one open area at ground level, away from parked cars, two-wheelers and gas lines.
  • Burst only between 8 PM and 10 PM, with a volunteer, water, sand and an extinguisher ready.
  • No crackers in narrow pol lanes, on terraces, balconies or in basement parking.
  • Keep a quiet space for elderly residents, babies, people who are unwell and pets.
  • Buy together from one licensed shop so every box can be QR-checked.

12 safety tips for Diwali night

  1. Buy only from a licensed shop and keep the bill. Check for the CSIR-NEERI green logo and scan the QR code on the box.
  2. Burst crackers only in an open space, away from parked vehicles, dry leaves, thatched roofs, gas cylinders and electric lines.
  3. Keep a full bucket of water and a bucket of sand nearby. Put used sparklers and duds straight into the water.
  4. Wear close-fitting cotton clothes. Avoid loose silk or synthetic saris, dupattas and kurtas near flames.
  5. Children must always be supervised by an adult. Give younger children only hand-held sparklers, held at arm's length.
  6. Light crackers with a long agarbatti or incense stick, at arm's length, and step back at once. Never lean over a cracker.
  7. Never relight a dud. Wait several minutes, then soak it in water.
  8. Never burst crackers inside a home, on a balcony, in a stairwell or in a car park, and never throw them at people or animals.
  9. Keep pets indoors in a quiet room; street dogs, cows and birds are badly frightened by loud bursts.
  10. People with asthma, heart conditions, newborns and older relatives are best kept indoors with windows closed.
  11. For a burn, cool it under clean running water for several minutes and seek medical help. Do not apply ice, toothpaste or oil.
  12. Know the emergency numbers: 112 (all emergencies), 101 (fire) and 108 (ambulance in most states).

Eco-friendly ways to celebrate

Gujarati Diwali has its own lovely customs: Kali Chaudas, Chopda Pujan for the new account books, rangoli at every door and the Bestu Varas greetings. Some ideas:

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  • Light clay diyas with sesame or ghee, and fill the doorway with rangoli, kolam or muggulu made from rice flour and flower petals.
  • Choose a short, shared community display in a permitted open space instead of many separate bursts in every lane.
  • Use sky-safe lights: LED strings, paper lanterns (akash kandil) and torans of fresh mango leaves and marigolds.
  • Spend the evening on Lakshmi Puja, a family aarti and sweets with neighbours; it is the heart of the festival.
  • If you buy crackers, buy fewer, choose green crackers with a valid QR code, and avoid high-noise bombs.

Read more: Diwali in Gujarat: Kali Chaudas, Chopda Pujan and New Year and Gujarati New Year 2026 (Bestu Varas).

Frequently asked questions

What are the firecracker timings in Gujarat for Diwali 2026?

The 2026 orders we found, from the Rajkot Police Commissioner and the Bharuch district administration, allow crackers on Diwali only from 8 PM to 10 PM (ETV Bharat Gujarat, 24 October 2026; Connect Gujarat, 22 October 2026). Gujarat's Home Department has used the same 8–10 PM rule in earlier years. Check your own city's police notice.

Has Ahmedabad or Surat police issued a 2026 cracker notification?

As of 25 October 2026 we found no 2026 firecracker notification from the Ahmedabad or Surat police commissioners. In Gujarat these notices are issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, usually in the last two weeks before Diwali, so watch the police commissioner's announcements.

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Are only green crackers allowed in Gujarat?

Yes. Under the Supreme Court's rules only green and improved crackers may be made and sold, and the Rajkot 2026 order says only green crackers may be used in the city. Look for the CSIR-NEERI logo and QR code.

Can I burst crackers on the road outside my house?

No. The Rajkot and Bharuch 2026 orders, as reported, ban bursting in markets, on public roads and near petrol pumps and gas storage, and Gujarat's Home Department guideline in 2025 also said crackers should not be burst in public places. Use an open private or society space.

Are sky lanterns (tukkal) allowed in Gujarat on Diwali?

The 2026 Rajkot and Bharuch orders, as reported, ban the manufacture, storage, sale and use of Chinese sky lanterns (tukkal). Other cities usually include the same ban, so do not fly them.

What about Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) night?

The Rajkot 2026 order, as reported by ETV Bharat, allows crackers only from 11:55 PM to 12:30 AM during the New Year festival. Other cities may set their own time, so read your local notice.

Official sources

The GPCB and Home Department websites, and the Ahmedabad and Surat police websites, did not load from our server on 25 October 2026, so we could not read their 2026 notices. News reports used on this page:

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Last verified: 25 October 2026. Editor's note (25 October 2026): Rajkot and Bharuch had issued 2026 orders when we checked; Ahmedabad and Surat had not. We will update this page when they do.

Disclaimer: This page is general information for families, not legal advice. Rules are set by the state government, the pollution control board, the police and the courts, and they can change at short notice, often only days before Diwali. Always follow the latest official notice for your area. If in doubt, ask your local police station.

Also read: firecracker rules in other Indian states and cities