Fireworks launcher by laterite house. आतिशबाजी atisabaji, पटाखे patakhe

I jumped shocked in my chair as an explosion, sharp as a crack of a lightning, terrorised the cyber cafe. A huge ball of fire flashed on the alley just outside the front store window.

Now that only smoke remained and I survived, I gathered my senses and asked the young business owner who stood there peacefully looking out, what was that.

He said 'marriage' and took me out the door pointing to an orchestra, forming a circle at the entrance to an apartment building further down the sandy path.

That was my first experience with Indian recreational / traditional use of firecrackers in Indian everyday life.

And here's the bomb: http://jpgmag.com/photos/2954685

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Fireworks (आतिशबाजी atisabaji, in Hindi), Abandoned firecracker (पटाखे patakhe) launcher left in front of laterite brickstone house after a street festival function at Maharashtra Kokan town - 4th of July tribute to USA 2012 independence day - India feature story image jpgmag - IMG_7989;