Green crackers, quieter Deepavali: Hyderabad traders say buyers still want the old bang

Brightly lit firecracker stalls have come up across Hyderabad ahead of Deepavali, with rows of fireworks stacked inside makeshift tents at designated locations. Fire extinguishers and other safety arrangements are in place, and traders are preparing for the festive rush. Yet many say business has been slower than in previous years, even as the market gradually shifts towards green crackers.

Green crackers were developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as a less polluting alternative to conventional fireworks, after a Supreme Court order in 2018 restricted the sale of traditional crackers. They are designed to release fewer particulate emissions and generate less noise. Their adoption has gathered pace over the past few years, with several established brands moving to greener variants.

The transition, however, has changed the sound and performance that customers have long associated with firecrackers. Sanjay Kumar Gupta of Ramamurthy Trading Company, a business running since 1975, said many customers were still unaware of the difference between green and conventional crackers, and some mistake the lower sound levels for poor quality.

"For customers, Deepavali is synonymous with crackers, blasts and bangs. They expect that familiar sound. When green crackers do not make a loud bang like traditional ones, they assume that the quality of established brands has gone down," he said. Another trader said some buyers had returned to complain that the crackers were not performing as expected.

Myakala Venugopal of Shivashakti Agency, who has been in the trade for 30 years, said the range of green crackers had expanded considerably. Fancy fireworks that were earlier unavailable in green variants are now being manufactured as green crackers. Customers who are conscious of environmental concerns specifically ask for them, he said.

Raghavendra of Hyderabad Crackers in Kukatpally said the shift began around 2021, with popular brands gradually moving to green variants and packaging now carrying the green symbol. While some fancy fireworks are no longer produced, even the classic mirchi bomb now makes less sound and smoke, he said. Quality and packaging had improved this year, he added, and a majority of customers ask for green crackers. Even so, a lack of awareness about the initiative continues to draw complaints from some buyers.

Several customers are also placing bulk orders directly with manufacturers in Sivakasi, including Standard Fireworks, at wholesale rates. "I have two children, and every Deepavali we invite my nieces, nephews and other relatives home to celebrate together. It has become a family tradition, so we need a large quantity of crackers. Buying directly from manufacturers in Sivakasi works out cheaper than purchasing them in smaller quantities from retail stalls," said Ravi Kumar, a resident of Kowkoor.

For traders, the challenges this season have gone beyond changing customer preferences. Mr. Gupta said he applied for a licence about 20 days ago but received it only on November 5, four days before the festival. Licences issued at least 10 days in advance would make a considerable difference to businesses, he said.

"We are now hoping to break even, not even make a profit. Earlier, we did not have even a minute of free time. Now it is 8.30 p.m. and I am sitting idle and talking to you, with just four or five customers looking around the stall. Families involved in this business struggle through the year to deal with the losses during this season," he said.

The shift to green crackers is part of a wider effort to curb air and noise pollution during winter, when festival emissions coincide with cooler weather that traps pollutants close to the ground. Health experts have long flagged the effect of firecracker smoke on people with respiratory conditions, the elderly and children. Traders say the transition would work better if customers were told clearly why the crackers sound different, and if licensing were streamlined so that seasonal sellers are not left with unsold stock.