When Did Firecrackers Become a Diwali Tradition for Indians? A Surprising Mughal Connection

Diwali, often called the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. Marking the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, it is observed with prayers, feasts, gifts, and vibrant decorations.

Homes are illuminated with diyas and candles, while streets come alive with colorful rangolis. Fireworks have become synonymous with Diwali, adding excitement and joy to the celebrations, though their origins in India have a surprising historical twist.

Supreme Court Allows Green Crackers Amid Pollution Concerns

The Supreme Court has permitted the sale and use of green crackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region from October 18 to 21. The court emphasised the importance of a balanced approach between celebrating festivals and protecting the environment.

The bench said, "We need to adopt a balanced approach, allowing the use of green crackers in a controlled manner without compromising the environment."

This ruling comes at a time when Delhi's air quality is alarmingly poor, 25 to 30 times worse than the safe levels recommended by the World Health Organization. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, PM2.5 levels in most parts of the city ranged between 300 and 400 on Thursday morning. These conditions traditionally worsen as Diwali approaches.

Origins of Fireworks: From Ancient China to India

Fireworks were not originally part of Diwali. Historians trace their beginnings to ancient China, where bamboo pieces thrown into fire would explode due to trapped air pockets. By the ninth century, Chinese alchemists had developed gunpowder, a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, laying the foundation for modern fireworks.

According to scholar Joseph Needham in Science and Civilization in China, the discovery of gunpowder by Taoist chemists led to the creation of fireworks and rockets in ancient Liuyang, China, around the second century BC.

How Firecrackers Reached India

Fireworks were introduced to India via trade with China, likely during the medieval period. Some accounts suggest their arrival in the 13th century, while others place it around 1400 AD. Initially, fireworks were a feature of royal courts during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal eras, used for grand celebrations, weddings, and victories.

Historian Iqtidar Alam Khan notes in Gunpowder and Firearm Warfare in Medieval India, "By the 13th century, gunpowder had reached India, bringing with it the art of fireworks, later embraced in court festivals."

The Rise of Fireworks During Diwali

The tradition of bursting firecrackers during Diwali likely began between the 16th and 17th centuries. Initially limited to royal courts and affluent households, fireworks gradually became a part of public Diwali festivities.

D.N. Jha writes in Feast and Fast: A History of Food in India, "Fireworks, originating from Chinese gunpowder art, were initially used in Indian courts and later became part of religious festivals like Diwali."

During the Mughal period, the fireworks industry flourished. Emperor Akbar included firework displays in court festivities, enhancing their grandeur. Historian Abul Fazl, in Akbarnama, documented Chinese pyrotechnics used in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri during Akbar's reign. John F. Richards in The Mughal Empire adds that Akbar began firework displays for Nowruz and victory celebrations in the 1570s.

Under Jahangir, fireworks became an art form. His autobiography Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri mentions a 1610 display by Chinese craftsmen in Lahore. Even Aurangzeb's era saw a thriving fireworks trade, recorded by British historian William Fraser in his 1700 diary. William Dalrymple, in The Last Mughal, described Chandni Chowk as home to a massive pre-1857 fireworks industry employing around 10,000 artisans.

India's Modern Fireworks Industry

Today, India's fireworks industry is dominated by Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, generating a turnover of Rs 6,000 crore. The region produces 90 percent of the country's fireworks, with over 8,000 registered factories employing more than 300,000 people directly. Indirect employment extends to 500,000, highlighting the significant economic role of this centuries-old tradition.