Firecrackers And Diwali

Diwali is a festival of sweets, lights, firecrackers, joy and spirit. Although it’s primarily a Hindu festival, Diwali is celebrated all over the world. It is a festival, which brings everyone together in the festive spirit. Temples, markets, homes, and business places are decorated with lights and colours.

The new moon of the Hindu calendar brings the New Year with it. People dress up in new clothes, clean their homes, prepare sweets and worship the gods in order to welcome the new start.  Diwali is a five-day festival and celebrates the victory of good over evil.

Diwali and firecrackers go hand in hand. The celebrations are not complete without the sound and light of firecrackers in the sky. Whether it is the kids, youngsters or the older people, everybody enjoys the show of firecrackers. This very much adds to the appeal of the festival.

The History

The history of firecrackers dates back to the 7^th century in China. Many countries welcome the New Year with firecracker displays. Diwali is also associated with firecrackers and lights. People pay their attainment of to the gods of prosperity and wealth by illuminating their homes and brightly lighting the sky with beautiful firework displays.

There are two reasons behind the use of firecrackers on Diwali day:

Traditional: The sound and the fumes of the firecrackers scare the evil away and the light covers the darkness and brings joy to everybody.

Scientific: Diwali comes in the month of October- November, which is after the rains, and the dry weather starts in India. The fumes from the firecrackers drive the mosquitoes and other insects away, thus cleaning the environment.

Types:

Firecrackers come in many different varieties form the visual ones to the noisy ones or a combination of the two - you can select whatever your heart desires. Shops are quick to offer attractive displays of firecrackers as soon as the festival approaches. According to tradition firecrackers are burst on three days of the Diwali festival: Choti (small Diwali), Diwali and the day after i.e. on Govardhan puja.

Some of the common varieties of firecrackers include: sparkly sparkles, twinkling flower pots (they come in various sizes from small to very big), furious rockets, chakris or ground flywheels that give out lovely colors, bombs, snake tablets, stone bombs and many more.

The delightful combination of all of the above makes for a joyous Diwali whilst the festival becomes a delight for people of all ages.