Two-sound shells: Rs 250-Rs 260 apiece
Three-sound shells: Rs 250-Rs 290 apiece
Chocolate bombs: Rs 100-Rs 150 a packet
Tubri, rang mashal, phuljhuri, shells and chocolate bombs — firecrackers are on sale across parts of Nungi, Mahestla and Batanagar, on the southern fringes of Calcutta.
Three days after the high court banned the sale and use of firecrackers, several dealers from these traditional baazi hubs in South 24-Parganas, around 22km from Calcutta, said all items were available. One just needs to come down.
“Chole asun (Come down). Asubidha hobey na. (There won’t be any problem) Market toh cholchey (Market is running),” said a dealer from Chingripota in Mahestala.
The man runs a shop on Daulatpur Road, which remains one of the favourite haunts for fireworks buyers from Calcutta and other areas. Every year, thousands would troop down to the area to pick up baskets of fireworks at a cheaper rate compared with the Calcutta markets.
“Is it fine to visit this time? What about police raids?”
“Na, thik achhey (No, it’s fine). Market cholchhey (Market is on),” the man said.
On November 5, a division bench of the high court had banned use or display or bursting of firecrackers during Kali Puja and Diwali. The term firecrackers includes all types of sparklers and the like that do not produce any sound on being lit.
At Nungi, around 21km south of Calcutta, a few dealers said the bulk of the scant buyers who were turning up were picking up rong moshal and phuljhuri, colourful and soundless variants of fireworks.
“People are coming from Calcutta and also from surrounding areas. A few have been walking down from Nungi railway station.
But the footfall so far is 10 per cent compared with previous years,” said a firecracker dealer in Nungi, who said he is keeping the shutters of his shop half down.
Across parts of Budge Budge and Mahestala, thousands of villagers, including women, are involved in making firecrackers, mostly in illegal factories. Farmers switch to making firecrackers between two harvesting seasons and try to rake in a handsome amount around this time of the year.
“We are open till 10pm. Market e lok khub kom kintu customer aachey (There are customers, but only a few),” said another dealer from Mahestala.
“A new variety of three-piece shell is available for Rs 290 apiece. The best variety of chocolate bomb is being sold at Rs 150 a packet. They produce good sound.”
The firework traders The Telegraph spoke to said they were aware of the high court order and directives from Nabanna against the sale of firecrackers.
However, what buyers could see was not visible to police.
“The main market is between Daulatpur Road and Khanpara. The high court order has left this entire market high and dry,” said a senior officer of Mahestala police station, which is part of the Diamond Harbour police district.
But what about some traders promising to sell firecrackers even on Sunday? “There may be a few shops here and there, inside houses. But no one is selling any item,” the officer said.