The Cracker Chronicles

Amit Paigude sits outside his firecracker stall located in the bustling Sahakarnagar area. The main road,near Sarang Society,is bustling with people but very few come to the stall to purchase fire crackers for Diwali. Other cracker stalls share a similar story. “Business has been slow since the last couple of years,” Paigude says with a shrug. “It is definitely not what it used to be,” he says.

In the midst of haggling with a couple of teenagers,Sudarshan Gaikwad,who has a stall at the main fireworks market located near Mhatre Bridge,says,“Business is down by 60 per cent. Most of the people prefer to spend their money on shopping for clothes rather than on crackers. Our main clients are parents who buy fireworks for their children.” He also adds,“Please do not take a picture of my shop. We have had a lot of problems already. I do not want people coming and protesting the sale of firecrackers.”

The major cracker markets are at places like Golibar Maidaan,Sahakarnagar,and Mhatre Bridge,but the crowd response,according to most of the sellers,is lukewarm. Ask them why,and they point to environmental concerns and high prices. Another cracker seller,Sawant,who sits at Golibar Maidan,says,“Firecrackers now cost anywhere between Rs 150 to Rs 10000. The ‘mala’,a roll of five to ten thousand string explosives,is one of the best sellers. Among the rest,the less noisy ones are more popular. People prefer those that light up the place rather than the loud ones,” he says.

Despite a dip in sales,newer brands of fireworks have entered the market. Major players from Sivakasi,Assam,like Anil,Mayur,Ainar,still hold forte. “There are newer brands too like Rajukannas. Fancy fireworks now help sustain business,” Paigude says,adding,“The 100 shots,the 200 shots,the double and triple bars that fire twice and thrice after they are ignited are very popular. Also,the sutli bomb,laxmi bomb,anaar and the chakra never go out of fashion.”

“The fun element associated with bursting crackers has reduced. People buy crackers only for the day of Laxmi Puja. Our stock comes in 4-6 months in advance so that there is no shortage. Business is alright but we have seen better days in the past,” he says.