Buyers want bang for the buck as green crackers fail to deliver

Firecrackers are displayed for sale at a market ahead of Deepavali festival, in Secunderabad on November 5, 2026 | Photo Credit: G. Ramakrishna

Light travels faster than sound. Across Hyderabad, brightly lit firecracker stalls have sprung up ahead of Deepavali, their colourful displays drawing attention in several pockets of the city. Large makeshift tents lined with rows of fireworks have come up at designated locations, with fire extinguishers and other safety measures in place. Traders are preparing for the festive rush, but some say business has been slower than in previous years, even as the market undergoes a gradual shift towards green crackers.

Green crackers, developed as a less polluting alternative to conventional fireworks, are intended to reduce emissions and noise. Their adoption has gathered pace over the past few years, with several established brands moving towards greener variants. However, the transition has also brought a change in the sound and performance that customers have traditionally associated with firecrackers.

Sanjay Kumar Gupta of Ramamurthy Trading Company, which has been in the business since 1975, said many customers were still unaware of the distinction between green and conventional crackers. Some mistake the comparatively lower sound levels of green crackers for a decline in quality, he said.

“For customers, Deepavali is synonymous with crackers, blasts and bangs. They expect that familiar sound. When green crackers do not make a loud bang like traditional ones, they assume that the quality of established brands has gone down,” he said. Another trader said some customers even returned to complain about the sound, believing that the crackers were not performing as expected.

Myakala Venugopal of Shivashakti Agency, who has been in the business for 30 years, said the range of green crackers had expanded considerably. Even fancy fireworks, which were earlier not available in green variants, were now being manufactured as green crackers. Customers who are more conscious of environmental concerns specifically ask for them, he said.

Raghavendra of Hyderabad Crackers in Kukatpally said the shift towards green crackers began around 2021, with popular brands gradually moving to green variants. Their packaging now carries the green symbol, he said. While some fancy fireworks have stopped being produced, even the classic mirchi bombs now produce less sound and smoke.

He said the quality and packaging of green crackers had improved this year, with a majority of customers asking for them. However, a lack of awareness about the green crackers initiative continued to result in complaints from some buyers.

Several customers are also opting to place bulk orders directly with manufacturers in Sivakasi, including Standard Fireworks, at wholesale rates. “I have two children, and every Deepavali we invite my nieces, nephews and other relatives home to celebrate together. It has become a family tradition, so we need a large quantity of crackers. Buying directly from manufacturers in Sivakasi works out cheaper than purchasing them in smaller quantities from retail stalls,” said Ravi Kumar, a resident of Kowkoor.

Licence delays add to traders’ concerns

For traders, the challenges this season have extended beyond changing customer preferences. Gupta said he applied for a licence around 20 days ago but received it only on November 5, four days before the festival. He said receiving licences at least 10 days before the festival would make a considerable difference to businesses.

“We are now hoping to break even, not even make a profit. Earlier, we did not have even a minute of free time. Now it is 8.30 p.m. and I am sitting idle and talking to you, with just four or five customers looking around the stall. Families involved in this business struggle throughout the year to deal with the losses during this season,” he said.

Published - November 06, 2026 08:34 am IST