Traditional firecrackers are being sold openly in an Old Delhi market.
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
With Deepavali approaching, Sujal Kumar, 19, and his mother Jaya Devi, 45, visited Sadar Bazar, a wholesale market in Old Delhi, hoping to find firecrackers that remain banned in Delhi-NCR due to air pollution.
They were not looking for green crackers, which are less polluting and allowed by the Supreme Court, but for traditional ones like rockets, bombs, multishots, and garlands.
“We asked around, but most vendors said they didn’t have these firecrackers,” Ms. Devi said. Her search was not in vain; one vendor, who had initially refused to deal in banned firecrackers, later asked her what specific items she wanted.
Ms. Devi said the vendor showed her pictures of the banned firecrackers and later returned with the requested items in a cloth bag instead of a transparent polybag. He also shared his phone number and said he accepts large and online orders with delivery. On October 15, the Supreme Court permitted the sale and use of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)-approved green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between October 18 and 20. The court had made it clear that only licensed vendors at designated outlets could sell such crackers, which could be burst only on October 19 and 20, between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., and 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. All other firecrackers remain banned.
While licensed outlets were waiting for October 18, unlicensed street vendors in places like Sadar Bazar and Jama Masjid market had stocked traditional firecrackers and were selling them openly, though with some discretion. From makeshift stalls under plastic tarps, they offered a range of items: flower pots, ground spinners, sparklers, and garland bombs.
Some vendors were also selling these crackers at higher prices and under misleading labels.
Outside a police post near Naya Bazar in Old Delhi, a vendor said, “We have been here for a month, even before Dasara.”
When asked if he was selling traditional firecrackers, he said, “If there is no ban on the demand, why should we not sell them?”
He said police had rounded him up twice. “Big firecracker manufacturers couldn’t open their outlets. They sold the products to us. People pay above MRP, and we make 30% to 80% margins,” he said.
Misleading labels
Green firecrackers were also on sale in Old Delhi’s markets even before the Supreme Court permitted dates of sale. Most of these crackers were labelled ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’, but lacked the required QR codes that verify their compliance with NEERI standards.
A vendor near Jama Masjid claimed all his firecrackers were green as they were labelled ‘eco-friendly’. However, the QR codes on the packaging were non-functional. “How are we supposed to verify? This is what the manufacturers gave us,” he said.
Several vendors admitted that ‘green’ labels can be misleading.
“There are limited green firecracker manufacturers,” said a shopowner near Jama Masjid, who holds a license and plans to begin sales after October 18.
“Most vendors source their stock from outside Delhi, and not all comply,” he said.
Vendors say traditional firecrackers remain widely available because green firecrackers are limited and more expensive.
“Green crackers are expensive and offer fewer options. Stock is insufficient to meet demand. Customers prefer traditional ones for their vibrant colors and loudness at the same price,” a vendor said.
Published – October 19, 2025 01:43 am IST
