The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Prices are no dampener for cracker sales in the city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 07, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Prices are no dampener for cracker sales in the city

Raghava M.

Vendors have displayed different varieties of chakkars, sparklers and flower pots
Gift boxes and bags containing different varieties are also in great demand

BANGALORE: H. Raj Mohan purchased fire crackers worth Rs. 1,500. His stock mainly consists of chakkars, rockets and sparklers. “My children prefer such fireworks that go up in the sky. We do not want to add to the noise pollution,” he said.

Not only has the demand for rockets gone up but also the prices of crackers have skyrocketed this Deepavali.

The Hindu joined the crowd milling about crackers at the stalls at Manekshaw Parade Grounds on Cubbon Road and elsewhere. This correspondent found that the trend was towards fireworks that hiss and sputter rather than boom and send dogs cowering under drains and sofas.

In tune with the demand from the customers, vendors have displayed different varieties of chakkars, sparklers and flower pots at the stalls. “Gone are the days when people used to mainly purchase Lakshmi Pataki, Atom Bomb and other crackers that generate a huge sound,” says S. Sagayanathan, who has been in the cracker business for the past two decades.

Businessmen like him are quick to clue into customers’ preferences with current bestsellers taking the pride of place in display. In the stalls at Manekshaw Parade Ground one can find wide range of flower pots, chakkars and sky shots neatly arranged in separate rows.

The season’s hotties are the sky shots, which are available in different varieties. Starting from 250 shots, there are those that fire 500 shots. “The activity is programmed using a computer,” says vendor E.K. Rajan. The price for a box of the sky shots range between Rs. 4,500 and Rs. 10,000.

Gift boxes and bags containing different varieties are also in great demand. “I find this convenient as it meets the demand of my cousin and also my three-year-old son,” said Vishwanath K. of Basavanagudi.

Good and bad

While some vendors say that the sale of crackers has come down compared to previous years, there are happy individuals who beg others differ. Rajan, who is surrounded by colourful boxes of assorted fireworks, said the constant increase in the price is a dampener.

Though traders are worried about the increase in the number of people going just across the border to Hosur in Tamil Nadu to buying crackers at a cheaper rate, this is what Mr. Sagayanathan has to say: “Those going to Hosur are mainly the affluent lot. Most people find it convenient to purchase crackers locally.”

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