Licence delays and quiet green crackers curb Hyderabad firecracker sales

Business at Hyderabad firecracker stalls is slower this Deepavali as customers miss the loud bangs of traditional fireworks and traders grapple with late licence approvals. Stalls across the city are set up in large tents with fire extinguishers and safety signs, yet footfall is down compared with previous years. Green crackers, promoted as low‑pollution and quieter alternatives, have entered the market but many buyers still expect the familiar roar. Sanjay Kumar Gupta of Ramamurthy Trading Company, operating since 1975, said customers often mistake the reduced sound for poorer quality. “For customers, Deepavali is synonymous with crackers, blasts and bangs. When green crackers do not make a loud bang like traditional ones, they assume that the quality of established brands has gone down,” he explained. Myakala Venugopal of Shivashakti Agency, with 30 years in the trade, noted that green variants now include fancy fireworks and that environmentally conscious shoppers specifically request them. Raghavendra of Hyderabad Crackers in Kukatpally traced the shift to around 2021, mentioning that packaging now bears a green symbol and even classic mirchi bombs produce less sound and smoke. Despite improvements, a lack of awareness still sparks complaints. Some buyers, like Kowkoor resident Ravi Kumar, are bypassing stalls and ordering bulk supplies directly from Sivakasi manufacturers such as Standard Fireworks to cut costs for large family gatherings. Gupta also highlighted licence woes, saying he applied 20 days ago but only received the permit on November 5, four days before the festival, when a ten‑day lead time would have helped his business. Families in this trade struggle year‑round and hope to at least break even this season.

Context

Green crackers are part of a government push to lower air‑pollution and noise during festivals. The quieter display meets environmental goals but challenges long‑standing consumer expectations for loud fireworks.