Cracker Safety Instructions

Set up correctly and most accidents never get a chance to happen. Light every firework at ground level using a candle or agarbathi, keeping your elbow joint straight to put maximum distance between your hand and the fuse. Never hold a firework while it's lit. Choose an open space away from parked vehicles, dry leaves, overhead wires, and building windows; aerial items need a clear landing zone with nothing overhead to deflect them back indoors. Keep a bucket of water within arm's reach before the first cracker is lit: PESO's guidance is blunt, every major fire starts small. Wear thick cotton clothing, not synthetic, and tie back loose ends. Buy only from a licensed seller and check for the CSIR-NEERI green logo and QR code, then scan it with the "CSIR NEERI Green QR Code" app to confirm it's a genuine, lower-emission cracker before you light it.

PESO's own guidance is direct on this point: an adult should always supervise the use of fireworks, and small children should never handle fireworks or use them alone. That means a parent lighting the item and holding sparklers steady for a toddler, not standing nearby while a child manages the flame. Sparklers burn hot enough to injure on contact, so keep them at true arm's length from any child's face and clothing, and never let a lit sparkler pass hand-to-hand near a crowd. If you're buying for children specifically, our kids' crackers range sticks to lower-noise, ground-based items that are easier to supervise than aerial shots. Whatever you buy, one adult per lit item, every time, is the rule that prevents the most common injuries.

Store crackers in a cool, dry place, away from any open flame. PESO specifically warns against keeping firecrackers near burning candles or diyas, a common Diwali mistake. Keep the box sealed and out of reach of children between sessions, and never store loose crackers alongside matches, lighters, or incense. Once the evening is done, don't leave partially burnt or unused pieces lying around: PESO's disposal instruction is to soak every used or leftover firework in a bucket of water before it goes in the bin. Wet crackers are dead crackers; dry ones can still be a hazard the next morning.

Every rule above works best paired with the right product for the person lighting it. Browse our full safety guides for state-specific rules and deeper how-tos, or head straight to the kids' crackers range for ground-based, lower-noise options built for supervised family use.