States » EastPosted at: Nov 4 2026 8:21PM


Bengal: Kawakhali firecracker fair presents a market of contrasts

Siliguri, Nov 4 (UNI) A Chinese firecracker called Gatling, which resembles a simple tubri but can be held in the hand and fired with considerable caution, has emerged as one of the attractions at Siliguri's green firecracker fair this Diwali.

Priced at Rs 1,600 for a single use, it has found a particular following among people who make social-media reels with fireworks. Yet, alongside this relatively new fascination, the familiar tradition of families stocking up on firecrackers for Kali Puja and Diwali continues to draw buyers from across northern north Bengal, the hills and even Sikkim to the fairground at Kawakhali.
The annual fair, which was introduced in Siliguri in 2013 when K. Jayaraman was the Police Commissioner, has shifted venues over the years. It has been organised at the Kawakhali ground for the past three years. This year's fair began on November 1 and will continue until November 8, with the wind-up scheduled for November 9. The number of stalls has increased considerably, from around 50 last year to 85 this time.
Although no major new varieties have been introduced this year, several products from previous seasons continue to attract attention. Among them are different varieties of sky shots, tubris and multi-shot fireworks, most of which are being supplied from Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu.
The Gatling, however, has a different appeal. According to seller Subir Banik, its demand has increased, particularly among those who use firecrackers to create reels. The product, imported from China, is designed to be held in the hand, although it requires careful handling. It is a one-time-use firecracker and costs Rs 1,600.
Sky shots remain another major attraction. Buyers can choose from 30-shot, 120-shot and even 240-shot varieties, with the 30-shot variety witnessing considerable demand. A 240-shot sky shot costs around Rs 4,500. Some of the more unusual varieties are named after musical instruments, including Tabla, Guitar, Drummer and Piano. These single-shot products, priced at around Rs 1,000, produce bursts of light accompanied by sounds resembling the respective musical instruments.
There are also more elaborate options for those willing to spend. A variety called Sweet Sixteen fires 16 successive shots and costs Rs 2,100. Coronation, a single-barrel firecracker, is priced at Rs 1,350, while Shanghai Night, which comes with two barrels and can be used twice, costs Rs 1,100.
Among the tubris, Peacock is a popular attraction. As its name suggests, the firecracker produces a shower of sparks that gradually spreads out like a peacock displaying its feathers. A medium-sized piece costs Rs 600, while larger varieties create a more elaborate display.
Another popular product is Mega Silver. A packet containing 10 tubris is selling for Rs 600. Interestingly, the printed maximum retail price on the packet is Rs 3,520. A tour of the stalls reveals similar discrepancies between printed prices and actual selling prices. Products carrying printed prices of around Rs 8,000 are reportedly being sold for approximately Rs 4,500. The gap between the printed price and the amount actually charged to customers is striking.
However, despite the growing number of stalls and the variety on display, traders are not particularly upbeat about business this year.
Abhishek Gupta, a senior staff member associated with the firecracker trade for several years, said the market was sluggish and sales had not picked up as expected. Buyers are still coming, but the overall business is not particularly encouraging, he indicated.
The experience of customers also reflects the changing economics of the market. Suvam Mitra, a chartered accountant from Falakata, travelled to Siliguri to purchase firecrackers worth Rs 8,900. For his family, buying crackers from the Siliguri fair has become an annual tradition. He, too, felt that the market was comparatively slow this year. One reason, he said, was the increase in prices. A packet of rockets that he had purchased for Rs 200 last year now costs Rs 400.
Yet, the market continues to attract customers with substantial purchasing power. Mitra recalled meeting another buyer from Sikkim who had purchased firecrackers worth Rs 46,700. For many families travelling from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Sikkim, the annual trip to Siliguri to stock up on Diwali fireworks remains an important part of the festivities.
The fair is managed by a committee, whose treasurer, Sumit Saraf, said the event had been organised at Kawakhali for three consecutive years.
He maintained that the fair exclusively promotes green and eco-friendly firecrackers in accordance with the rules framed by the state government. Police deployment, fire-fighting arrangements, water sources and other safety measures have been put in place across the venue.
Saraf said there had been no significant new inventions in firecrackers this season, with several varieties introduced in previous years continuing to dominate the market.
He also pointed to the musical sky shots and the Peacock variety as examples of the products attracting buyers.
He further said that a number of small traders had joined the fair this year, creating opportunities for them to earn from the seasonal business. While he was not yet in a position to assess the overall sales figures, he said the fair continued to provide a platform for traders ahead of the festival of lights.
On the question of Chinese products, however, Saraf maintained that the fair promoted products manufactured in India and encouraged customers to purchase Indian-made firecrackers.
He said he discouraged the sale of Chinese products, while declining to comment on the presence of any particular imported variety.
That assertion presents an interesting contrast with the claims of sellers about the Chinese-origin Gatling, which is attracting a distinct segment of customers.
Between the traditional tubri, the musical sky shot, the peacock-shaped fountain of sparks and the Chinese Gatling popular among reel-makers, the Kawakhali fair offers a snapshot of how Diwali celebrations and consumer preferences are evolving.
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