Satkar Fire Works

Lights and crackers, sound and smoke, gold rush and assorted dried fruits...Diwali is the time for all these. But scrape away the festivities and below lies the sordid tale of child labour and pollution. We skim across history and geography to bring you the firecracker story.

HISTORY OF FIRECRACKERS

Nearly 2,000 years ago: Chinese discover crackers by accident. Folklore says the Chinese burnt bamboo to mark the Lunar New Year. As the bamboo caught fire, air caught in the bamboo shaft expanded and burst. The "popping" sound was the first firecracker, a good way to scare away evil spirits.

Chinese alchemists messing around with various chemicals came up with a mixture that added more sound to the 'bamboo pop'. This explosive mixture was the precursor of today's gunpowder.

In the 13th century on his return home, Italian traveller Marco Polo carried back samples of gunpowder.

Over the next couple of centuries the Italians and French perfected the art of making gunpowder.

What started as a means to ward off evil, slowly became an integral part of weaponry.

FESTIVALS

A marriage or the puja of a minor deity calls for celebration, which means burst crackers. But in India there are other bigger festivities that add to the din.

Cricket Wins: Do we need a T20 or a World Cup victory to celebrate? Even an ODI win (especially against Pakistan) sends us into a paroxysm of joy. And what better way to express it than a night-long orgy of mind-numbing firecrackers.

Shab-e-Barat: Also called the night of forgiveness. Celebrated across the subcontinent by reading the scriptures and praying. Strings of lights and crackers are part of the celebration. Takes place around a fortnight before the commencement of Ramzan.

MOVIES

If there is glitter and sizzle, can Bollywood be far behind? This is the season of big-ticket releases.

Rs 450-500 cr riding on Bollywood films starting from Diwali till end of the year.

Producers also have an artistic side. Some films that have immortalised the bonding and family values that Diwali stands for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Mohabbatein, Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Home Delivery.

BUSINESS

90% of India's fireworks produced in Sivakasi

A large part of the industry is unorganised. Nearly 8,000 unorganised units operate in Sivakasi

Child labour (banned in India) is prevalent. Over 1 lakh children are forced to work in the sector

FOREIGN OFFICE

US: Fourth of July Trust the Yanks to showcase the glitz on their independence day. Washington, DC leads the way with firework displays. Disney World in Florida has more than 1,000 firework shows every year.

UK: Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night) Brits are sticklers for tradition. On November 5, 1605 Fawkes and others were caught trying to blow up the British parliament. Celebrated now by burning effigies of Fawkes. The first recorded firework display in England was in 1486 during the wedding of King Henry VII.

France: Bastille Day July 14 is synonymous with democracy. Marked by military parades & dance parties.


China: New Year, Most important festivity. Feasting, exchange of gifts and prayers are the dominant themes.

Chile La Semana Valdiviana Festival celebrated to mark the founding of the southern Chilean city of Valvidia. Firework displays bring down the curtains on the festival in which ships, decorated with tableux and garlands sail down the Calle-Calle river.