After Deepavali: Karthika masam and New Year’s Eve

Deepavali is not the only night in the season when Hyderabad families light crackers. In Karthika masam, which usually runs from late October into late November, many homes light lamps every evening, and on Karthika Pournami a few sparklers and flower pots beside the diyas are a family tradition. Then, on 31 December, apartment terraces fill up again at midnight.

For Karthika evenings, keep it small. A box or two of mini and electric sparklers and a box of small flower pots is enough for a family lighting lamps at the door. These are evenings of quiet and lamps, so we suggest soft items only. Our Karthika orders open in the first week of November, with delivery in four to six days, and the minimum order stays at ₹2,500, so many families combine it with New Year.

For New Year, check your society’s rules first, because many buildings allow only sparklers and fountains, and only for a short time after midnight. Long sparklers and colour flower pots are popular, as they look good on a terrace and do not disturb people trying to sleep.

If you have leftover boxes from Deepavali, keep them in the original carton, sealed, in a dry room away from the kitchen. Before lighting them in November or December, check each box. If the paper feels soft, smells musty or the wick has come loose, soak it in water and throw it away. Damp crackers can fizzle and flare unpredictably.