Sivakasi is the natural choice for fireworks production.
Low rain fall and a dry climate prevailing in the Sivakasi
area contribute to unabated production. What could have been
consumed in three hours of the Diwali Day came to be produced
in 300 days, almost with overtime jobs through out the year.
In Sivakasi the first fire works industry was started in the
early 20th century. Having achieved a measure of success in
Safety Matches, Colour Matches and Star Matches,
Mr. A Shanmuga Nadar and Mr. Ayya Nadar ventured upon the making
of sparklers –then the most popular item in the Small Fireworks
family, which were at the time imported from the UK and Germany.
The germinal seed for the making of modern family Fireworks or
Small Fireworks was planted in the year 1934 when the Central
Excise Duty on Matches was promulgated.
Until the outbreak of World War II in 1939, there were only a
handful of factories in Sivakasi, Trichur and rimjalakuda in
Kerala State. From 1938 to 1944 the import of fireworks and
firecrackers was obstructed by war. This shortage gave a fillip
to the indigenous industry, which was in its infancy.
During the year 1940, the Indian Explosives Rules were enacted
whereby a system of licensing
was introduced for manufacture, possession and sale. Thus came
to be set up in the year 1940
the first organized factory with several precautions and safety
measures.
The shortage in the market helped these, then seasonal, factories
to work even during off-season and build up stocks. With World War II
coming to an end and the gateway for import of raw materials having
been reopened, the indigenous industry enlarged itself.
Not only the existing factories broadened their efforts, there came
into existence several new units, of which National Fireworks,
Kaliswari Fireworks and Standard Fireworks were prominent in the
year 1942. These three factories started marketing their products
throughout the length and breadth of India. These were later
supplemented by new units at the average of 10 per year. What
started as I or 2 factories in 1923, rose to 3 in 1942, and by
the year 1980 the number of factories had risen to 189. By the
end of 2001 the total number of factories was 450 in Sivakasi alone.