Noisy, colourful firecrackers have been around for centuries but while attitudes are changing, with pollution a key concern and reason for bans, many point out poor air quality is not just linked to festival celebrations.
A blanket ban on crackers in many states and a Supreme Court order on the use of barium in crackers has hit the production of fireworks in Sivakasi ahead of festive season.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to his New Delhi counterpart, Arvind Kejriwal, urging him not to impose a blanket ban on the sale of firecrackers that fall within the permissible norms.