Kolkata’s firecracker dealers have called for the permitted Diwali fireworks window to be extended from 8 pm–10 pm to midnight, after residents raised widespread complaints about noise violations during Diwali and Kali Puja. The demand is a proposal from the Burrabazar Fireworks Dealers Association and does not represent any change to the existing restriction.
Association president Santanu Dutta said he would appeal to the national fireworks federation to approach the Supreme Court for an extension of the permitted period from two hours to four hours. He argued that allowing fireworks until midnight would better reflect how residents celebrate Diwali and would be more practical to enforce.
“Diwali night, people enjoy till midnight. It should be relaxed from 8 pm to 12 midnight. We will appeal to the federation. It will be practical and feasible,” Dutta said, according to the Times of India report.
The proposal follows criticism from residents who described this year’s noise violations during Diwali-Kali Puja as among the worst in recent years. The association representative defended display fireworks, saying products sold through licensed channels remain within the Supreme Court’s 125-decibel limit. He also acknowledged that fireworks can appear particularly loud to people who are not regularly exposed to such sounds.
Dutta said stricter bans could increase violations rather than improve compliance. “More the bans, the higher the violation. If it is easily available, the craze will go away,” he said. He estimated that about 30% of people are disturbed by fireworks but argued that the disruption is limited to one or two festive days each year.
The association also pointed to fireworks being used during other occasions, including Chhath, when crackers are often burst in the early morning. Dutta said residents stock fireworks in advance and also buy them from markets outside Burrabazar, including Nungi and Champahati. The comments highlight the enforcement challenge created by supply networks that extend beyond a single market area.
According to Dutta, current demand is concentrated on aerial display products, sky shots and repeater shots. A three-piece shell costs around Rs 700, he said. Some traditional crackers, including kali patka, are allowed, while chocolate bombs and dodoma remain banned because they are considered unsafe.
He added that the experience of fireworks varies by neighbourhood. In densely populated areas and slums, ground-level noise is more prominent. In high-end areas, residents may hear both the lifting charge and the explosion after shells rise to heights of about 100 ft or 200 ft.
The proposed extension would require consideration by the Supreme Court and cannot take effect solely on the basis of the dealers’ request. Until any change is formally approved, the existing permitted window and restrictions remain the operative framework described in the report.
