Light Up Your Home and Your Finances: Diwali Safety & Insurance Tips

A moment of carelessness can turn your festival of lights into a season of loss unless you’re prepared. A young homeowner still remembers last Diwali as if it happened yesterday. The smell in her living room wasn’t of sweets or marigolds—it was the acrid sting of burnt wood and melted plastic. One careless sparkler, tossed a little too close to the curtains, had set everything ablaze. In minutes, her furniture was charred, electronics ruined, and walls blackened. The total damage? Rs 8.5 lakh.

But what hurt more than the cost was the confusion. She’d been paying for home insurance for years, yet when she needed it most, the policy didn’t cover “celebratory negligence.” Calls, forms, follow-ups—what should have been a joyful festival had turned into a bureaucratic nightmare.

This isn’t an isolated story. Every year, across India, homes face the same risk. Fire-related accidents spike nearly 35 per cent during Diwali week, with over 18,000 cases reported in urban areas alone, according to data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the General Insurance Council’s annual industry reports. Yet only 43 per cent of homeowners hold comprehensive home insurance, and an even smaller fraction fully understands what their policy actually protects.

Understanding Your Home Insurance

Most home insurance policies do cover fire—but the devil is in the details. Before you light your first diya this Diwali, take a moment to understand exactly what your coverage protects:

Accidental Fire vs. Negligence: Will your policy step in if a stray firework sparks a blaze, or if a diya is accidentally knocked over? Some insurers might exclude “careless handling” or festive accidents, so it’s worth double-checking.

Structure vs. Contents: Your walls and flooring might be covered, but what about the furniture, electronics, or clothing inside? Often, the building and belongings are treated separately—knowing the difference can save headaches later.

 Claim Limits: Expensive items like TVs or modular kitchens may have caps—check before disaster strikes.

Venkatesh Naidu, CEO at BajajCapital Insurance Broking Ltd, notes, “Insurance isn’t just a policy gathering dust, it’s your financial firewall. But it only works if you’ve read the blueprint. Most gaps are discovered too late, when it’s already costly.”

5 Simple Safety Measures

Even the best insurance can’t prevent accidents. Small steps often save more than claims ever could:

• Designate Fire Zones: Keep diyas and fireworks away from curtains, furniture, and LPG cylinders. A bucket of water or sand nearby could make all the difference.

• Inspect Electrical Decorations: Check wires, connections, and sockets. Short circuits cause nearly a third of Diwali fires.

• Store Firecrackers Outside: Metal boxes, cool areas, never indoors. A stray spark inside a room can be catastrophic.

• Supervise Children and Elders: Assign a “fire watch”—someone undistracted who monitors potential hazards.

• Have an Evacuation Plan: Know exits, keep fire extinguishers ready, and brief your family. Five minutes of preparation can save lives. 

The Insurance Checklist:

• Read the fire damage clause thoroughly.

• Update your insurer about renovations or expensive new purchases.

• Take photos and videos of valuables as proof.

• Save your insurer’s helpline number for emergencies.

• Check if add-ons or riders are needed for jewellery, electronics, or other high-value items. 

Venkatesh Naidu adds, “Insurance is most valuable when invisible—understood fully, never used. But when you need it, it’s the difference between recovery and ruin.”

If Disaster Strikes Ensure Safety First

• Call fire services.

• Document damage immediately—photos, videos, timestamps.

• Notify your insurer within 24 hours.

• File an FIR for major damage if required.

• Don’t start repairs before the surveyor inspects.

Have a safer, brighter Diwali this year. The young homeowner upgraded to a comprehensive plan, installed extinguishers, and taught her children the exits. Diyas sit in safe holders, never left unattended. She celebrates with the same warmth but now, with peace of mind.

Diwali is about light. Let that extend to your financial awareness too. A little preparation ensures your home shines with joy and safety because the brightest homes are those built on both celebration and security.

Celebrate this Diwali brilliantly and protect wisely. True brightness comes from peace of mind, not just flickering flames.