Spark missing from Delhi's fireworks hub, but Diwali may not be green

Reaching Sadar Bazaar, Delhi’s cracker market, is an ordeal. Even on an ordinary day, this market of many markets in the walled city of Delhi that has history etched on practically every brick and stone, is packed with people. And today, on Dhanteras, the crowd is overflowing, cocking a snook at Covid protocols, as people indulge in some last-minute shopping for Diwali that includes everything — from glitzy buntings and sticker rangolis to wax diyas and idols of Ganesh and Lakshmi.

However, firecrackers—a Diwali staple — are not a common sight this time round. A blanket ban has been imposed on firecrackers in the National Capital Region, keeping in view the air quality, which has remained “poor” over the past few days. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced the ban on September 15, which was followed by the Delhi Pollution Control Board extending it till January 1, 2022. The sale of “green crackers” (see box) is banned, too.

While traders and customers rue the muted sense of festivities, small eco-friendly crackers are available in the market to “retain some essence of how the festival is celebrated,” says a trader, refusing to be named.

A plethora of vendors is selling “pop pops”—tiny balls that make a series of popping sounds and release a little smoke when thrown to the ground. These are selling for Rs 50 for six boxes and Rs 300 for 50 boxes. These, and toy guns, which can be fitted with reels and match sticks and cost Rs 25 a single piece, seem to be the only fireworks available for kids.

“Due to the blanket ban, I didn’t buy crackers in the first place. Whatever little stock I had was thankfully sold out before the ban was imposed,” says Ravinder Nath Sahni, who holds a permanent licence for selling fireworks in the market. He now sells hosiery items and undergarments at his shop, but rues that sales that have not picked up despite the overflowing crowd.

In Teliwara, an area in Sadar Bazaar, exchanges in hushed tones and eye glances bring out the hidden stock.

However, in Teliwara, an area in Sadar Bazaar, exchanges in hushed tones and eye glances bring out the hidden stock. Flower pots (anar) at Rs 120 for a pack of 10, sparklers at Rs 150 for 50 pieces and even bijli bombs are some green crackers available here. While the police personnel deployed in the market frequently conduct surprise checks, in some corners the sale of firecrackers continues unabated.

A group of college students, who do not wish to be named, carrying a bagful of bijli bombs and flower pots say they have struck gold. “What is Diwali without fireworks?” says one of them. “The ban is only imposed during this festival, but crackers are burst on various occasions all through the year — on weddings and on Dussehra even! How will banning them for this period help anyone?”

Flower pots (anar) and sparklers are some green crackers available here

According to a report in The Indian Express, the Delhi Police arrested 26 people and seized 4,000 kg of firecrackers this month.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to ban fireworks was in good spirit, but the timing of the move was wrong,” says Rakesh Kumar Yadav, president, Federation of Sadar Bazar Trades Association. “Traders start placing orders for crackers between the months of January and March, and last-minute bans spell disaster for them. The central and state governments need to work in tandem to come up with a national policy on firecrackers. The Sivakasi factory and those producing chemicals for crackers should be shut down in order to systemically address the problem,” he adds.

A government’s decision, he says, should be far-sighted. “While crackers are banned in Delhi, they aren’t in the nearby cities, which does not really help the cause.”