Hyderabad, Nov. 11 -- When fireworks brighten the sky during Diwali, few think about their origin. A large share of India's crackers are made in Sivakasi, a town in Tamil Nadu known as the country's fireworks capital.

From sparklers and flower pots to rockets, its products reach markets across India. Behind the festive sparkle is a story of two cousins, enterprise and a town transformed by industry.

From matchsticks to fireworks

Sivakasi's industrial story began with P Ayya Nadar and A Shanmuga Nadar. In 1922, the cousins travelled to Kolkata to learn match manufacturing.

They returned home and established South India Lucifer Match Industry in 1923. Their venture helped begin the town's manufacturing journey.

The cousins later starte...