Deepavali celebrations this year began much earlier in Sivakasi, the hub of fireworks, thanks to a Supreme Court judgment that allowed bursting of green crackers in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) for four days for the festival of lights.
“It is a joyous moment for the industry,” says P. Ganesan, president, Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers’ Association (TANFAMA). All major associations of manufacturers have welcomed the October 15 ruling, saying it means more sales for the manufacturers.
The judgment has come against the backdrop of the fireworks industry of Sivakasi battling legal tussles for years over accusations of emissions from fireworks further polluting the air during winter in Delhi-NCR. “The industry won’t get any immediate benefit this Deepavali because the court order comes too close to the festival. But it has given us hope for future business,” says A. Asaithambi, president of Sivakasi Fireworks Manufacturers’ Association (SIFMA).
In tune with times: Among the new products is the tank. It will send out three jets of showers that emit different lights. One of them will produce a shower with a crackling sound. At the end, the tank will fire six times in the air. | Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY
