Unlike past years the craze and enthusiasm for bursting crackers this Diwali was less in the State capital which was disappointing for many traders but welcomed by those against noise and air pollution during the festival.
Compared to past years, fewer people were interested in purchasing crackers in Doon, opined Pradeep Kumar a wholesaler from Chaddha Traders at Hanuman Chowk.
"The State has recently witnessed a major disaster which is being considered as one of the major causes for diluting the festive mood of locals here. The fireworks business has also suffered a substantial loss this festive season as the sales of crackers registered a decline of 10-15 per cent," claimed Chaddha.
The local administration too took some action against those selling fireworks without permits or in places other than the designated spots but such action was limited.
However, with the administration being comparatively more stringent in implementing the rules, the sale of fireworks was affected as the number of unauthorised stalls selling crackers in the city area was considerably reduced by the administration's stance.
The authorities had issued three-day licence to the local shopkeepers for selling crackers, which has also affected the business, informed a local shopkeeper, Prem Kumar Thapa, who has been in this business for 20 years.
He added that this year he had bought crackers amounting to `70,000-80,000 but he failed to make any profit from the sales this Diwali.
Shopkeepers were restricted from putting up stalls at prominent public places which diverted many regular customers from coming to the sites where stalls were put up in past years, said Rajinder Singh Gulati a local shopkeeper at Dhamawala area.
He added that Diwali sales were quite disappointing and he managed to sell crackers worth about `3,000 this year.
The sale of Chinese fireworks was banned this Diwali which too affected the business. According to local shopkeepers, unlike every year they were provided just three-day licence to sell crackers which has adversely affected their business.
As per the local shopkeepers till the festival day they were not clear about the exact locations where they were permitted to put up the stalls and they were waiting for the Government order. The administration was stricter with the local shopkeepers who were not allowed to put up stalls to sell fireworks on the road sides.
According to Thapa, who had established his stall near the Gandhi Park, gradually the craze for crackers is declining among the customers. "Earlier people who used to purchase more crackers amounting to more than `1,000 had now restricted themselves to purchasing items work just Rs 250-300," he said.
Contrary to this, some wholesalers received a good response from the customers. Rakesh Kumar of R Sales shop at Hanuman Chowk said that he sold crackers amounting to Rs three lakh in value, which made this Diwali profitable for him.