Except for a few special days a year, Windsor residents are not allowed to buy or set off fireworks. But as the city’s South Asian community prepares to celebrate Diwali, two local business owners say the Festival of Lights should be added to the holiday list.

According to the Hindu calendar, this year’s Diwali starts on October 31 and continues until November 1. It is the largest festival celebrated by Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities worldwide.

A handful of southwestern Ontario municipalities, including Chatham-Kent and Sarnia, have exceptions that allow backyard fireworks during Diwali, calling them “additional special occasions.”

Windsor is not among the cities with the Diwali exception, but the owners of a local South Asian grocery store say so far it hasn’t been a problem and people are understanding.

“It’s the biggest festival… and to celebrate Diwali, people decorate their homes, light fireworks and eat beautiful food and desserts,” said Nikunj Khadela, co-owner of SK Grocers on the corner of Wyandotte Avenue. West and Cameron Boulevard.

Craig Robertson, Windsor’s director of licensing and enforcement, says both the sale and use of consumer fireworks are not permitted, with exceptions for Victoria Day, Canada Day, the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve.

“If any organization or event host wishes to hold a fireworks ‘show,’ they must first obtain permission from the fire chief through a permit,” he said in an email.

Additional exemptions to the ordinance would require city council approval, according to Robertson.

While the owners of SK Grocery Stores admit that they do not have a permit, they say that they respect their neighbors and that this does not pose a problem.

Khadela says Windsor has a growing South Asian population celebrating Diwali, and its stores are constantly busy, even more so in the days leading up to Diwali.

The store goes door to door in advance to notify neighbors about the fireworks and let them know when they will start.

Gurpreet Singh, co-owner of SK Grocers with Khadela, said that overall they did not experience any problems.

“Everyone is cooperating, they even come to our store… and enjoy the fireworks,” Singh said. “Then they join in a little celebration and we have a good time.” They received a complaint that prompted a city official to walk out, but he said they were asked to wrap up by 11 p.m. and that had already been arranged. to do.

“They know it’s just one day and people will celebrate and there are lots of people,” Singh said. “But I just ask them to come with us, have fun with us, and we’ll tell them what a great day it is. So I think we can get together and have a good time.”

“I think we should at least give an exemption to this one day.”