Siliguri, Nov. 4 -- A Chinese firecracker called Gatling, which resembles a simple tubri but can be held in the hand and fired with considerable caution, has emerged as one of the attractions at Siliguri's green firecracker fair this Diwali.
Priced at Rs 1,600 for a single use, it has found a particular following among people who make social-media reels with fireworks. Yet, alongside this relatively new fascination, the familiar tradition of families stocking up on firecrackers for Kali Puja and Diwali continues to draw buyers from across northern north Bengal, the hills and even Sikkim to the fairground at Kawakhali.
The annual fair, which was introduced in Siliguri in 2013 when K. Jayaraman was the Police Commissioner, has shifted venue...