Firecracker sale gains momentum as Kerala gears up for Vishu celebration

As Kerala gears up for Vishu celebration, the firecracker market, which was hit hard last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is seeing some hope for a revival this season. In view of the Court order, this time the fire-cracker market has special green crackers, that are also safe.

Kozhikode: Kerala is gearing up to celebrate Vishu, the festival of prosperity and goodness. This Vishu, people in Kerala are celebrating the festival with a message of survival, amid the pandemic. With COVID-19 hitting the firecracker market hard last year, there is some hope for a revival this Vishu season. In fact, it is the firecrackers market that has become active first this Vishu.

The Election results that are to be declared soon after Vishu, on May 2, is also being looked at as a major business opportunity by the firecracker traders.

In view of a Court order, this time the firecracker market has special green crackers, that are environmentally friendly. The firecracker manufacturers have given more importance to light and colours this time around. Last year, Vishu, one of the major festivals in Kerala, was dampened by the COVID lockdown. This year, people have started buying and stocking firecrackers for Vishu well in advance. There is also a reduction in the price of crackers.

The firecracker traders are trying to overcome the crisis created by COVID to the business by introducing new types of crackers. The stars this time are the fancy items that are likely to attract children's attention. From the little cracker which sells at Rs 10, the cost of crackers ranges up to Rs 9000.

After the 2019 season, the firecracker traders have been in deep crisis. Though the traders had set their hopes on Deepavali, COVID devastated those hopes too. But this Vishu festival is being seen as a way to overcome those crises.