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

HYDERABAD 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.