What’s Diwali without fireworks! A range of crackers have arrived in the city to add sparkle to the Diwali celebrations.
The racks of the fireworks shops in the city adorn the traditional as well as new varieties of crackers. Chinese crackers are becoming a hot favourite as they are priced comparatively low, said shop owners. The shop owners expect the sales to pick up from Monday.
Gone are the days when the sounds of Diwali kept everyone awake. With issues being raised against sound pollution, crackers have been kept below 50 decibels. “These days fireworks are sought after more for its spectacular appeal,” said Shihab of National Traders, Kaloor.
As for safety, shop keepers in the city said that all the crackers are safe as no explosive stuff have been used. Yet parents and guardians should guide children to use them cautiously. The warning on the cover should be read properly.
The common variety seen in the crackers are the Chinese models like soundless comets, whistling sparklers, silver rain etc. The main attraction of these Chinese models is that they do not cause much sound pollution. Their visual attraction also adds to their demand. The Chinese crackers will not burst when shown under direct candle light.
Multicoloured aerial blast, Chinese flower pots and comets are the new arrivals. Comets cost from Rs 200 upwards while the flower pots are priced at Rs 100. Crackers ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 5000 are available in the shops.