Rising environment awareness, prolonged wet weather keep buyers awayHubballi: Lukewarn response to cracker sales during the recently concluded Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Hubballi city has left fireworks dealers crestfallen.Traditionally, the Nehru Stadium here serves as the bustling hub for crackers, with the authorities allocating space for sellers to set up stalls. This year, though, the dealers were compelled to wrap up their operations just five days into the Ganesh Chaturthi sales. Several factors have contributed to this lack lustre response. Increased awareness on the environmental impact of crackers has led to a growing number of buyers opting for more eco-friendly options, while prolonged rains this monsoon season have kept many shoppers away from the cracker stalls.Moreover, the rise of alternative modes of celebrations, such as community events and digital festivities, also played a role in reducing the demand for traditional firecrackers. However, the changing times have left Hubballi Fireworks Dealers Association high and dry. Members of the association, who are primarily dependent on the festive season for their livelihood, are now staring at a huge inventory of unsold items. Many have expressed concerns about the sustainability of their businesses should the current trend hold. Firecracker dealers are now calling for support from local authorities and community members to help them navigate the choppy waters. As the festive season progresses, it remains to be seen how the cracker industry in Hubballi adapts to these evolving dynamics. Vimal Talikoti, a member of the dealers’ association, said in the past few years, sale of crackers was largely restricted to household festivities during Ganesh Chaturthi. This year, due to continued rain, even those sales have taken a blow.
