GUWAHATI: Barpeta, a district from the lower part of Assam, holds a long-lasting legacy in the firecracker industry, an art that has been passed down for more than a century.
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The foundation of this craft was laid over 100 years ago by Lakshiram Pathak of Majorhati, who was inspired after reading a Bengali text on Chinese firecrackers published in 1885. Pathak’s innovations were quickly recognised by the then-British government, with his fireworks garnering praise for their quality and efficiency. His enterprise was even appreciated by Queen Victoria, who honoured Pathak with a gold medal and awarded him two bighas of land in Bilortari Hati, Barpeta.
After Pathak’s demise, his work was continued by his son, Narahari Pathak, who kept traditional methods alive and encouraged the locals’ collective interest in firecracker-making. His untiring efforts laid the groundwork for Barpeta to emerge as a notable centre for firecracker production, attracting entrepreneurs like Monoranjan Pathak, Nalini Pathak, and Amarendra Pathak, among others, who each set up their own units across Barpeta.
Today, however, despite such remarkable strides in traditional firecracker manufacturing, production units in the area continue to rely on modest setups, substituting machines with manual tools like hand-pounders, kadhais, and hammers.
Nevertheless, Barpeta’s craftsmen are not standing still, as they have no intention to stop competing against Chinese imports anytime soon. As environmental awareness rises, local firecracker makers are bringing a twist to the production process, by producing eco-friendly or “green” crackers, thus staying true to the 139-year-old formula passed down through generations.
Additionally, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also lauded the efforts of this community recently, highlighting the effort taken by Barpeta to produce homegrown firecrackers. “This Diwali I pledge to support #VocalForLocal, will you,” he shared on social media platform X.
For these artisans, Diwali and Durga Puja are not just celebrations but peak seasons that breathe life into their business. Despite the popularity of firecrackers imported from China or Tamil Nadu to Barpeta’s adjacent districts like Guwahati, the local craftsmen continue to labour in the hopes of capturing a large share of the Assamese market.
Thus, this traditional firecracker industry in the heart of Assam remains a testament to the enduring culture and community spirit surrounding its people. While facing stiff competition from larger markets, the district's artisans continue to keep Diwali festivities alive in Assam with firecrackers made from materials that seek to cause less harm to the environment, carrying forward a century-old legacy.
