Bengaluru: The city is awash in colourful lights as Deepavali kicked off Thursday. However, the festival's other hallmark trait of sound may not be as conspicuous this year, given that most firecracker stalls are seeing people buying quieter and greener products.
With 315 authorised firecracker stalls in 68 playgrounds across the city selling their wares from Tuesday, traders say the 10% price rise has not really dampened Bengalureans' enthusiasm. They, however, are eagerly buying quieter, eco-friendly crackers, preferring sparklers and flower pots gaining popularity to loud ones.
Perumal Swamy, a seasoned firecracker vendor from Vidyapeetha, said that 90% of the city's firecracker supply is sourced from Hosur in Tamil Nadu, where Sivakasi remains the major manufacturing hub. "Sales has picked up significantly with demand for sparklers and flower pots rising, as people seem to lean towards noiseless and eco-friendly celebrations," he said.
In Sahakarnagar, trader Anjana Murthy said, "The variety and availability in Hosur make it an ideal source, and we buy in bulk to meet Bengaluru's demand."
Firecracker stalls have sprung up at major playgrounds in Malleswaram, Vidyapeetha, Jayanagar 7th block, Chamarajpet, JP Nagar, HSR Layout, KR Market, Gandhinagar, and Dasarahalli. Crowds were seen milling around the stalls at the Vidyapeetha ground Thursday morning. "People who travel have already purchased crackers. But we will see a majority buying on Thursday and Friday, the first two days of the festival," said Murugan Pandiyan, a vendor from Chamarajpet, expecting the crowds to swell further by evening.
"Firework boxes start at Rs 1,000 and can go up to Rs 20,000," said vendor Vijay Lokesh.
BOX: Sky Lanterns: A quiet yet colourful celebration
Bengalureans seem to have found in sky lanterns a greener, vibrant and colourful alternative to fireworks, given that traders are reporting brisk sales of the product. Available in various designs, including star, floral, crescent moon, and classic lantern shapes, they are available for anywhere between Rs 100 and Rs 2,000 apiece.
Sky lanterns, mostly sourced from northern states like Gujarat, Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Chennai, have seen an increase in price over the years, rising from Rs 80 in 2019 to as high as Rs 2,000 today, said Ramesh Jha, a Binnypet trader. "People are adding a personal touch, writing diwali wishes on the lanterns before sending them up," he told TOI.
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Kiran K N, a Nagarbhavi resident
"I usually go to Vidhyapeetha to pick up crackers for my kids, and this time, they suggested we try green crackers to help reduce noise pollution. But they are costly. For about Rs 10,000, I used to get multiple boxes with a wide variety, but now, I can only manage two boxes with around 20 types each in them. The designs and appearance of these eco-friendly crackers are different, so I'm actually looking forward to trying them out."
Hemanth Kumar Kandiraju, a tech professional
"Green crackers have only got costlier. For instance, a box of eco-friendly flower pots, which produce less smoke, now costs around Rs 450, compared to Rs 200-300 earlier. Similarly, the price of green sparklers has increased from Rs 50 to Rs 80 per packet."
Murali P, a resident of Uttarahalli
I enjoy the beauty and calm of sky lanterns lit up in the night. But this year, even their prices have shot up — from Rs 120 to almost Rs 200 per lantern. The more intricate the designs, the higher the price. It's getting expensive to keep it simple.