Customers throng cracker market in Ludhiana, wholesale dealers a happy lot

The cracker dealers in the wholesale market at Dana Mandi, Jalandhar bypass, are a relieved lot as customers have started visiting the market and buying crackers for Diwali. The dealers maintained that “green crackers” are the hot favourite among buyers this time, which are being sold like hot cake.

The president of Ludhiana Cracker Dealer Association, Pradeep Gupta, said that the government had introduced “green crackers,” which are being sold in bulk. On being asked about the difference from other crackers, Gupta said that these were more eco-friendly and caused less pollution as compared to those sold earlier. He said that a good number of residents and retailers were coming to make purchases in bulk and the dealers expected a good business this time, even though the festival of lights was just two days away.

The residents are coming in good numbers to the market to buy the crackers, which especially are brought from south India every year. The dealers start getting these two-three months before Diwali and stock these in their godowns. “We expect brisk business this year too as crackers worth over Rs 25 crore had been bought and stocked up by the dealers,” said another dealer.

Around 40 stalls have been put up by dealers at Dana Mandi to sell crackers at wholesale prices, from where residents as well as dealers of retail shops in the city and periphery areas come and buy the crackers.