The story
Sivakasi's dry, hot climate with little rain suits the slow sun-drying that fireworks need. In the 1920s two local brothers learned match-making in Calcutta and set up match factories at home; fireworks followed, and the town became the centre of India's fireworks trade. Production is labour-intensive and seasonal, peaking before Diwali. The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) licenses every factory.
In numbers
The Sivakasi area has over 1,100 registered fireworks units and several thousand unlicensed set-ups.
Sivakasi: Diwali will bring some respite but India's fireworks capital stares at a bleak future — South First · 2023Factories employ over 3,00,000 workers, and 5,00,000 more work in allied industries.
Sivakasi: Diwali will bring some respite but India's fireworks capital stares at a bleak future — South First · 2023Labour payments account for more than half of production cost because no machinery is used.
Sivakasi: Diwali will bring some respite but India's fireworks capital stares at a bleak future — South First · 2023Sivakasi accounts for 90% of fireworks production in India.
Challenges of firecracker industry — Shankar IAS Parliament
Ways in for a newcomer
- Licensed retail and wholesale fireworks trading before Diwali
- Packaging, cartons and printing for fireworks brands
- Green-cracker formulation and testing services
- Safety training and compliance consultancy
Problems the cluster faces
- Court bans and limits on firecracker sales in many cities
- Frequent fatal factory accidents
- Illegal units undercut licensed makers
- Short seasonal demand