Toy-shaped crackers flying off shelves in Sivakasi, Sattur ahead of Deepavali

CORRUGATED PACKAGING

- HARINI M @ Virudhunagar

Corrugated cracker varieties on display at a shop in Kulavanigarpuram of Tirunelveli

(V KARTHIK ALAGU)

DEEPAVALI’S newest trend is lighting up greater than the sky.

In Sivakasi, where fireworks have long been tradition, manufacturers are cashing in on a playful twist — crackers shaped like toys and cartoon characters that are transforming the business with booming sales. At shops in Sattur and Sivakasi, children tug their parents toward shelves lined with trains, guitars and even Tom and Jerry-shaped fireworks. These toyinspired varieties, made with corrugated materials, vanish from shelves within minutes despite their premium pricing. These cracker varieties account for over 50% of total retail sales this year.