LUCKNOW News: With Diwali extravaganza, shopkeepers have come up with firecrackers designed especially for children. The markets are flooded with variety of crackers like whistle sparklers, magic whip, ghost rocket, rainbow thunder that are grabbing the attention of kids. Because they are eco-friendly, they are high in demand.
Take for instance, the magic whip, which is a long red-coloured string which doesn't emit smoke. Neatly designed, the strip is priced at Rs 85 and has five prices. "It bursts 500 times continuously but is a better and cheaper version of the ordinary 'chatai','' said a wholeseller.
The 'whistling sparklers' only emit silver colours with no sound and smoke. Priced at Rs 85 for five pieces, the whistling sparklers are to impress kids who are too fond of it. The 'wheels' other than the usual round shaped, this year, has come in shape of a 'swastik'. When it is lighted, it will give a look of moving swastik. This unique cracker is also priced at Rs 85 for five pieces.
Besides, colorful fountains have also acquired the centre-stage. Available in the market at Rs 150 (for five pieces), triple coloured fountains is the highlight of the season. To impress the children, crackers have come in the name of IPL teams, like Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers and others. The crackling bullet which costs Rs 30 is also high in demand. The colourful zig zag reaches the sky and produces multi-colours.
In the rockets, which the sellers say that is diminishing in demand, Ghost rocket is a novelty. Instead of a regular triangle top, this rocket has a face of ghost on it. Eco-friendly crackers shaped like 12-star is being preferred because of no smoke and sound. It can be lighted inside the bedrooms also. "The demand for eco-friendly crackers has increased. Nearly 40 percent crackers that we sold are eco-friendly,'' said Gulsher Azad, a wholeseller.
The prices seemed to be high but the crackers are worth it. They have been designed taking the risk factor involved while burning it. And the branded ones are trustworthy. For example, the magic whip is so neatly covered with red paper and gives a long string where one needs to light. 'With long string, there is ample time for people to light it. This decreases the risk involved,'' said another shopkeeper.
However, the price of crackers this year has increased to 40-45 percent in comparison to last year. President, Lucknow Aatisbaji Vypyar Mandal, Akhilesh Gupta reasoned incessant rains in Sivakasi and MNREGA as prime reason for the high cost. This year, there were a lot of rains in Sivakasi which hampered the production. Moreover, the labour now doesn't look up to this work as he finds better money in MNREGA,'' said he. The cost of labour has also led to an increase in the cost of production. Giving an example of the price hike, he said, the 'lal pataka' which was till last year priced at Rs 20 is being sold at Rs 25 now. Similar hike is in other crackers too.
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10447984.cms
0 comments:
Post a Comment