Across the country, people are buying fireworks to prepare for July 4th. But before 2024, many were also using Independence Day to stock up on fireworks months ahead of Diwali, the festival of light.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, Harris County authorized its first-ever fireworks sale season for Diwali. In June, after a safe and successful Diwali, Commissioner Briones championed the extension of Diwali fireworks sales for the next five years.
“We want to be not only one of the most diverse places but one of the most inclusive," said Commissioner Briones. “This is about respect, it’s about inclusion, it’s about celebration, and it’s about preserving all of our rich cultures and making sure that future generations are able to celebrate.”
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important holidays celebrated by over a billion Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs worldwide, and approximately 150,000 in the Greater Houston region. Robust firework displays embody the essence of the Diwali holiday which honors the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
Over 20 residents attended Commissioners Court to speak on the impact fireworks have on their celebration of Diwali. All urged the court to vote to extend the seasonal sales to 2030.
“I’m 78 years old,” said resident Mansukh Vaghela. “I’ve lived in Houston for 44 years. At my age, you usually go back to your childhood, and you remember Diwali, the sweets, the delicate food, and fireworks. So, if you pass this resolution for the next five years, then not only will you make me happy, but you will also be happy because you did the right thing.”
"I moved to the U.S. about three years ago. In the past, I have lived in the state of Maryland and Indiana where I never had the privilege to celebrate Diwali the way we do back in India," said resident, Nilesha Patel. “As a child, I always looked forward to evenings [because of the] fireworks. Our Diwalis for so many years were dead without fireworks, until I moved to Houston last year. Since [moving], I feel that I'm back home celebrating exactly the way we used to celebrate.”
Commissioner Briones worked closely with the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office to craft this measure. At court, Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen assured residents that safety was top of mind when adding this new fireworks sale season.
“There was a concern at first that five years seemed like a long time, but here’s the reality. If we don’t have to come back every year because we know [Diwali] falls at different times, we can prepare,” said Fire Marshal Christensen. “We can begin the messaging early. We know it’s coming, and we can prepare those sites and work closer with the vendors.”
This year, Diwali falls on Monday, October 20. The fireworks season will run from Wednesday, October 15 to midnight on Diwali.
While buying, possessing, and using consumer fireworks in unincorporated Harris County is legal, they are prohibited in the City of Houston. If you choose to use consumer fireworks, read the caution labels carefully, have a water source available for emergencies, and soak used fireworks thoroughly before disposing of them in the trash. For additional safety information, please visit the HCFMO website.