Hyderabad Firecracker Sales Fall 20-25% Ahead of Diwali as Shoppers Cut Back
Firecracker traders in Hyderabad are witnessing a 20 to 25 per cent decline in sales ahead of Diwali compared to the past three to four years, as festive shoppers across commercial hubs like Begum Bazaar and Attapur cut back on spending. Local shopkeepers reported that customers who previously spent between ₹2,000 and ₹3,000 on crackers are now limiting their purchases to ₹800 to ₹1,000.
Despite an increase in production costs caused by rising prices of chemicals and raw materials, as well as supply chain disruptions linked to the conflict in West Asia, traders have kept retail prices unchanged. The All India Fireworks Association resolved not to pass on these extra expenses during a meeting held in Telangana to avoid dampening consumer interest further.
Venugopal Bangad of Bhagwati Fireworks in Attapur, who is a member of the association, explained that the decision was taken to ensure higher prices do not discourage celebrations. Shoppers on the ground echoed this more restrained approach to buying. Arun Prasad, 38, who was purchasing crackers with his family at Begum Bazaar, spent about ₹1,800 and noted that his family chose to buy only one or two items per category this year rather than leaving unused crackers behind.
Alongside pricing challenges, dealers are actively pushing Indian-manufactured items and green crackers designed to reduce emissions. Immadisetty Pratap Kumar, general secretary of the Telangana Fireworks Dealers Association (TFDA), stated that domestic crackers rely on purified chemical formulations developed with input from the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
According to Kumar, the industry has achieved around 72 per cent of its transition to greener formulations since 2018, with the remaining 28 per cent expected to be completed within the next two to three years. The TFDA has also instructed its members to exclusively sell Indian-made stock, enforcing a total ban on Chinese firecrackers. Representatives warned that chemical residues in Chinese products intended to boost light and sound pose severe respiratory risks equivalent to smoking seven cigarettes.
Traders noted that while festive demand is currently subdued, firecracker sales continue through the year to cater to weddings, political elections, and other regional celebrations.
