As Diwali nears, firecrackers are selling like hot cakes at Mohammed Ali Road, where shops open as early as 7.30 am and start seeing heavy crowds by 9 am. Minesh N Mehta, general secretary of the Mumbai and Thane District Firework Dealers’ Welfare Association, said, “The trends over the year have changed a lot. Earlier, we used to get Chinese crackers, which were mostly sound-producing ones, but we have seen a rise in the demand for crackers that emit light and colour, such as flower pots or phuljadi [sparkers].”
This is because more fireworks have been designed with kids in mind in recent years. Mehta added, “Earlier, the youngest targeted groups of manufacturers would be those in their early teens, but due to demand among kids, manufacturers have designed smaller and safer versions of bigger fireworks. These are sold at cheaper rates as well, and this year we have seen that they are in high demand.”
Another reason for the fall in demand for sound crackers is concerns expressed by the authorities about noise pollution. Mehta said, “People always want something novel, and they keep asking us to innovate. In light of this demand, manufacturers have started producing more colourful fireworks.” He added, “We also do not have a list of fireworks banned by the authorities. We take it upon ourselves not to sell products that might cause harm.” Mehta claimed that the smoke of crackers helps kill mosquitoes and other insects that breed during the monsoon season.
Talking about the varieties of crackers that are being sold this year and their prices, he added, “Many shops have different varieties, so it’s difficult to say that such and such crackers are the only products being sold this year. But they are all within the price range of those whose budget is Rs 500 as well as Rs 2 lakh. This Diwali, there is something for everyone.”
While many other products have been affected by the new GST reforms, the crackers industry has not seen any such impact. “Our GST has been 18 per cent, and we are very happy about it. Before the GST was introduced, we had to pay around 42 per cent in various taxes. Since GST was introduced, we have been seeing better profits,” said Mehta.
Talking about fire safety, Mehta said, “Multiple shops selling firecrackers comply with all the regulations. There are water sprinklers, jugs, and fire extinguishers in every shop to avoid untoward incidents, which most occur in makeshift stalls and not in proper stores.”
People speak
In the past year, a heavy wave of awareness about pollution has spread across the country, and several people are opting not to burst crackers, but there are still those who choose to celebrate, albeit in a limited way.
Advocate Akshata Borode, who was out with her family to buy crackers, said, “I, personally, don’t particularly enjoy bursting crackers, but I have kids who do, so just for their sake, we buy crackers, but in a limited manner, as we also want to be conscious of our actions and their repercussions.”
Vivek Tiwari, another buyer, said, “My family and I buy fewer crackers than before; we choose those that emit less smoke and sound, so that we are also responsible in our actions. The reason for buying crackers in the first place is the nostalgia they hold.”
A taxi driver said, on the condition of anonymity, “We used to be enthusiastic about bursting crackers, but due to inflation, we are not able to afford them anymore. For us, it boils down to a choice between buying fuel or crackers, so we opt to just spend time with our family.”
Crowd management
Police Constable Manoj Krushna Gaikwad, who had been posted in the area to manage those coming to purchase crackers, said, “The crowd is very well-behaved this time. They are queuing up on their own and awaiting their turn. We are just here in case something happens, but otherwise, we help the traffic police by keeping people off the roads and on the footpath in front of the stores.” Senior PI Raise Shaikh of JJ Marg police station said, “The police personnel deployed along Mohammed Ali Road have been deployed as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident.”
