WITH just two days to go before the Diwali celebrations, fans of fireworks will be eager to start shopping around for some colourful explosives. Santham Pillay and Doreen Premdev take a look at what's available this year, what's most popular and where to find them in Durban and Gauteng.
ROOPANANDS, Springfield Park, Durban
Pop pops - R1.50 a box
Sparkles - R14 a pack
Tom thumbs - R1.50 to R 2.50 a box
Big cakes - R1000 to R2000
Assorted boxes - from R400
FIREWORKS KING, Jacobs, Durban
Pop pops - 60c
Crystal popper - R1
Sparkles - R12 for a pack of 12
Fountains - 75c to R12
Exclusive items
Cakes - from R500
Rockets ranging - from R500
SONI FIREWORKS, Chatsworth, Durban
Cakes - R7 to R4500
Pop pops - R1
Sparkles - R15 for a pack of 12
Mountain Crackers - R3
Sky rockets - R150 for three
The store also stock "pet-friendly fireworks", which give off limited smoke but provide three to four minutes of added colour effects.
MILANS POOJA SHOP, Extension 1, Lenasia
Ground fountains in boxes - R25 to R750
Box specials - R275 to R500
Special-effects cakes - R30 to R4000
Silent, decorative cakes - R50 to R150
Sony effects combos (special- effects fireworks) - R120 to R2 500
Rockets - R10 to R600
MAC'S BOOK AND GREETING CARDS, Oriental Plaza, Fordsburg
Pop pops - R70 (pack of 50)
Ground showers - R7 to R35
Assorted box specials (includes a range of ground showers) - R20 to R360
Multi-shot aerial displays - R100 to R1200
Tom thumbs - R35 (pack of 10)
Bottle rockets - R25 (pack of 12)
FIREWORKS INDEX
Cakes - have a single fuse that can be used to light several tubes in sequence. They have aerial effects, including spinners and flower bouquets.
Pop pops - Popular among children. Tiny white parcels that create a loud noise when thrown with force.
Sparkles - Popular among children. A stick that creates sparks when lit.
Fountains - Ground device which shoots showers of sparks in the air.
Rocket - A tube-like device that shoots itself into the air. The different kinds of rockets include sky rockets, bottle rockets and missiles.
Tom thumbs - Fireworks that contain powder and are attached with a fuse. When the fuse is lit, it burns and results in a loud bang. Tom thumbs are for children 10 years and older, but under adult supervision.
Assorted boxes - Have an assortment of fireworks, including fountains, rockets, mini crackers and sparkles.
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