It is only a matter of time you start seeing internet threads and discussions about fireworks and its relevance to our festivities. Here is our piece about the factors influencing the price of Sivakasi crackers in 2019.
A bit of history!
When two brothers of Sivakasi fled to Kolkata to escape drought, they learnt the craft about making crackers from a Bengali. On their return, they became a pioneer in building the cracker industry. The dry weather of the geography was a major bonus for manufacturing fireworks. Ever since the 1900s, Sivakasi has been known for crackers and matches industry. Evidently, there are reports that state, the Indian Army has tied up with the Sivakasi crackers manufacturers for ethical use of crackers.
Mass production and love for authenticity
Mass production, a major industry trend of the 20th century, has urged the consumers to opt for handmade products. And for some definite and indefinite reasons, people assume that handmade products are unique, authentic and have a spirit of community.
We take pride to share with the world that we have purchased something creative, something that carries on the tradition of a particular tribe, something that makes us special and helps us stand out from the crowd. Be it pickles from Andhra, toys from Karnataka, potteries of Jaipur or Assam’s Terra Cotta - the authentic feel of these products or its mere mention is incomparable to any conventional products! So is the craze for crackers from India’s crackers hub - Sivakasi!
We all know that there are two types of people who look at the price hike, one protest against it and the other stay silent. It doesn't matter which of these categories, you belong to, you will be pleased to have the knowledge about the factors that influence the price of Sivakasi crackers this year!
The two major factors which will influence the price of Sivakasi crackers in the year of 2019 would be,
Supreme Court’s rule 2018
One major disruption that caused the Sivakasi cracker industries to face a collapse was the apex court’s 2018 ruling.
The Supreme court of India,
- Denied approval for manufacturing crackers with Barium Nitrate, justifying that the compound causes air pollution
- Imposed a ban on explosives, giving only a 2 hour window for crackers
- Banned serial crackers such as garland
Barium nitrate is the most important component of crackers that sparkle. It is responsible for the bright white sparkles in crackers like fountains, chakra, pencil crackers, sparklers, and many more. These crackers are lit and enjoyed during night time by majority of age groups. Additionally, cracker garlands are one of the few major sources of revenue for Sivakasi manufacturers. A ban on these two left the cracker industry crippled.
Also, the Supreme Court advised using green crackers to safeguard the environment, even though no definition of ‘green crackers’ was given. This resulted in a confusing situation and made it almost impossible for manufacturers to carry on with their business. So, the manufacturers went on a strike that lasted for 4 months. Many reports stated that this period hit hard on the sales of crackers.
Price hike in raw materials
Consequent to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the demand for raw materials increased, so did the price. Economists predict the hike in raw materials will cause a rise in the price of crackers too.
This is where bijili crackers plays a major role between the manufacturers and buyers. We act as a marketplace for Sivakasi crackers manufacturers. To stay loyal to the buyers, we made an agreement with the Sivakasi manufacturers and has ensured that despite the rise of raw material’s price, the price of Sivakasi crackers sold through bijili crackers is going to remain the same as last year for 2019 Diwali! As a bonus, the cost of particular crackers may even be lesser than its last year's cost!
To conclude, if you are looking to buy authentic Sivakasi crackers and if you want to save a fortune doing so, the best option would be bijili crackers
a.k.a bijili crackers.
Happy Diwali, folks!
