Kolkata’s firework favourites: Shells, shots and chocolate bombs
Times of India | 1 November 2024
12 Kolkata: Shells and shots that exploded in the evening sky, releasing a dazzling display of light, sold more than traditional fireworks, like sparklers (fuljhuri), torches (rangmashal), spinners (charki) and flowerpots (tubri). The latter was also not in favour at neighbourhood stalls. Here, chocolate bombs and kalipatka, which legally made a comeback after being banned for nearly two decades, outsold the traditional fireworks.
At Saheed Minar, where the biggest Baji Bazar in the city is held, shells and shots that take off with a boom before exploding in the sky sold more than other fireworks. While shells offer a single display, shots provide multiple displays. Though more expensive than traditional fireworks, customers appeared to prefer shots that combined sound and light.
The price of shells ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 800 for two to three pieces, while the more popular shots in packs of 30 or 60 cost Rs 1,250 and Rs 1,850 respectively. But there are shots that can go up to 10,000 pieces and cost Rs 1.2 lakh.
"While sparklers are for one's own enjoyment, one is able to share the delight of shells and shots with neighbours, an entire locality and beyond," said Santanu Datta, a leading functionary of the Burrabazar Fireworks Dealers' Association that organises the market.
Kankurgachhi resident Saket Agarwal, who bought shells and shots worth Rs 50,000 on Thursday afternoon, said the shots not only allowed him to share his enjoyment with others, but it also ensured his bragging rights in the locality. "Diwali is about extravagance and spreading delight. What is the point of twirling a sparkler or setting alight a flowerpot when you can showcase the splendour of fireworks in the backdrop of the night sky?" Agarwal asked, adding that shots perfectly rolled illumination and noise into one neat package.
Fireworks dealer Sushil Kumar Golcha said there were nearly 30 varieties of shots on sale at the Baji Bazar. "The preference has changed drastically this year. Compared to previous years, we had fewer stocks of sparklers and torches. Shots are among the fast-moving items. The stock of sparklers and torches has not depleted that much," said Golcha.
At street-side stalls that have been set up in neighbourhoods, chocolate bombs and kalipatka outsold sparklers.
Babla Roy, chairman of Sara Bangla Atosbaji Unnayan Samiti, said chocolate bombs and kalipatkas were being sold everywhere and were flying off the shelves because they were making a reappearance after a long time.
"Seeing the simple crackers that can explode and spread happiness fills me with nostalgia. Now that no crackers are banned, the Diwali and Kali Puja of yesteryears have returned to Kolkata. All chocolate bombs and kalipatkas are within the 125 dB limit permitted by the Supreme Court. There may be a few that may emit a little more or less noise as these crackers are made by hand and not machines. But there is nothing illegal about noise crackers," said Roy.
He even argued that despite the shots, crackers and several other types of fireworks being lit and burst on Kali Puja and Diwali, the pollution they caused was less than on other days as factories were shut for the occasion and there was less traffic on the roads. "What is this noise demon that everyone talks about? How can one evening's enjoyment cause harm when the ambient noise all year round is high and the air we breathe is generally foul?" he questioned.