Thanks for bursting my crackers Quora. My childhood bedtime stories have now gone all phuss!
Wondering why. Well, because a Quora thread has shed some light on the connection between patakhas and Diwali and went on to explain that apparently there is no historical connection between the two.
That’s right! While we are all having a heated debate on how crackers just add to the pollution menace, and how the Supreme Court decided to ban the sale of crackers till 1 November so that we could breathe some fresh air, Quora conveniently gate-crashed the party and paani-pheroed our discussion.
A Quora reader, Som Bhatta is correct in saying that firecrackers originated in 7th century medieval Chinese Tang Dynasty.
According to media reports, it was during the Mughal era that the first traces of firecrackers were found.
Sapan Saxena seconds Som Bhatta’s theory that crackers during Ramayana is very unlikely, but at the same time doesn't rule out the possibility that firecrackers might have existed during demon Narakasura’s time.
In Mahabharata, when Krishna fought a battle with Narakasura and seriously injured the legendary asura, he requested for a boon from Krishna and Satyabhama before his death, that people should celebrate his death anniversary by lighting up their houses, distributing sweets and bursting firecrackers. His boon was granted and they blessed him that his death anniversary would be celebrated on the day of Diwali, which was also the day when Rama and Sita returned to Ayodhya.Sapan Saxena, a Quora reader
Quora user GK believes that fireworks were in use thousand of years back in India through display of Agni-bans. But then again there is no authentic source to back this claim. Additionally, some say the first signs of crackers can be traced to ancient paintings of the Mughal empire, given that Mughals were excellent when it came to making explosives.
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