The most prominent festival of the country, Deepavali falls on 6th November. Especially for this occasion, wholesale mega outlet crackers shops will be set up in Island Grounds, Royappettah, Nandambakkam, and Porur from 25th October.
Including the new crackers introduced this year, all varieties of crackers are manufactured in Sivakasi and transported to other places.
Presently, cracker sales shops are set up in some of the multi-groceries shops in Chennai Metro. Still, just 2 weeks before Deepavali, large-scale wholesale cracker shops will be set up. As per this, the mega sales shops should have already been opened.
The petition appealed against the Island Grounds Cracker Sales is scheduled o be taken up for enquiry again on 24th October. Once approval is given as the verdict, the cracker traders are prepared and set for opening their sales outlets from the very next day – 25th October.
In this regard, the President of the Chennai Metro City Cracker Traders’ Association, M. Sheikh Abdulla shared:
‘Once the verdict is given by the court against the petition regarding cracker sales in Island Grounds is given, the sales will start on 25th October. There will be 70 shops in the Island Grounds alone. Each shop will have crackers worth Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 Lakhs on an average.
Apart from this mega sales cracker sales shops will be set up in Royappettah, The ground located opposite the Nandambakkam Trade Centre in Chennai, and the ground opposite the Porur Saravana Stores.
As compared to last year, there are no changes in the prices. As the sales of crackers were somewhat lesser last year, there is a stock of crackers worth Rs, 1.4 Crores. This year, 34 new varieties of crackers are being introduced. The new varieties cost from Rs. 142 to Rs. 4240. The most special new variety is called ‘Wedding Series’ – once lighted, it takes off and there is a fireworks colour display 24 times or 80 times.
Gift boxes are available from Rs. 250 to Rs. 8000. Guns are available from Rs. 20 to Rs. 400. The gun of Rs. 400 appears as heavy as the real gun in shape and size. As per the Supreme Court Order, bombs with high sounds such as atom bombs will not be sold.
In Island Grounds, the cracker shops with all basic facilities will be open from 10.00 AM to 12.00 midnight. The items will be sold on rates as per the printed list. The Chinese-make crackers are banned.’