Crackling

Essabhai Fireworks,Manish Market
It is Diwali around the year at Essabhai Fireworks,which at any given time of the day,is bustling with people. The shop,set up in 1938 by Salebhai Essabhai,was taken over by his sons Yusufbhai and Mohammadbhai. While the former died and the latter is old,manager Abdullah Ghia has taken over the proceedings ever since. “We give great offers to customers every time they shop and this is what brings them back to us,” says Ghia. With a long queue lined outside the store,the business will shoot up during this week,but sales are brisk through the year. “Noiseless crackers are in demand,” says Ghia. It’s USP: the ladies-only counter,which increases sales double-fold.

Nagpal Fireworks,Malad
When Kanhyalal Nagpal set up a firecracker store in 1983,little did he know that it would go on to become a landmark of sorts in Malad. The shop,set up in Somwar Bazaar,sells the best quality crackers. Diwali time witnesses the highest sales,but weddings,birthday parties and other festivals around the year help them sustain their business,feels Nagpal. “Most people prefer firecrackers that are on the less expensive side—anaars,zameen chakras and flowerpots are a favourite. ”

Kopri,Thane
With as many as seven stores situated on either sides of the road,this is definitely a paradise for Diwali shoppers. Don’t go by the price tag,they sell it to for one-tenth the price. “For instance,a box with 120 sparklers which burst into different colours in the sky will cost you around Rs 1,000 while the actual price on the box is around Rs 13,000,” says Naveen Nair,a regular here.

Chhaya Fireworks,Andheri
Kamleshbhai Bhatia as a child assisted a roadside vendor to sell crackers. Several years later,his immense knowledge made him open his own store. With a symbol of Sivakasi on his store,the shop specialises in selling all sorts of innovative crackers,“There is one sparkler when lit transforms into a butterfly,then there are sparklers that when burst in the sky take up different shapes,” says Bhatia who believes in stocking reasonable brands at the store. During other seasons,Bhatia also stores rakhis,Holi colours and other accessories at his store.