Found the ancient recipe for pyrotechnics used in warfare/fireworks and some more information/accounts.

THREAD

the following is from: History of Hindu Chemistry Vol I by Praphulla Chandra Ray

“By varying proportions of the ingredients, viz., charcoal, sulphur, saltpeter, realgar, orpiment, calx of lead, asafoetida, iron powder,camphor, lac, indigo and resin of Shorea robusta, different kinds of fires are devised by the pyrotechnists, giving forth flashes of starlight”

this Recipe for various types/colors of gunpowders by varying the quantities of the constituents is from Śukranīti by Śukrāchārya

Charcoal, sulfur, suvarchi, stones, harital, lead, hingul, iron filings, camphor, jatu, indigo, juice of sarala tree, etc.

..while gunpowder and firearms appear to have been known in India since immemorial times, and though we know that fireworks and firearms are always in use – the Portuguese, the first Europeans who came to this country, were struck at their landing with the display of both –

“Besides the moral rules with the extension of the use of such weapons, another and perhaps even more potent reason can be produced. Firearms were such powerful engines of war that everyone, who possessed them, keep their construction and handling a secret is possible.”

Chinese crackers had a different term in Tamil to distinguish them from Indian crackers

Charcoal obtained from the destructive distillation of arka wood is highly valuable and was used as a component of explosive powder (my dad confirms this, growing up he saw arka (jilledu) coal powder used in flower pots, etc.

“The snuhi plant Those like Arka invest places all over the Indian peninsula. The qualities of this plant for pyrotechnic displays are as well known as those of Calotropis gigantea.”

The following stanza, which is taken from the Rajalakshminarayanashrdaya, a part of the Atharvanashasya, is no doubt a clear proof of the fact that Hindus were familiar with gunpowder at a remote period.

“Explosive powder either used for rejoicings as fireworks or for discharging projectiles was known India from the earliest period and its preparation was never forgotten;”

“India is the land of fireworks; no festival is complete without them and as the materials for their manufacturer all Indigenous end of easy access, there is no difficulty in gratifying such desires.”

from On the weapons, army organisation, and political maxims of the ancient Hindus, with special reference to gunpowder and firearms
by Oppert, Gustav Salomon, 1836-1908

https://archive.org/details/onweaponsarmyor00oppegoog/page/n87/mode/2up?q=rocket

DISCLAIMER: this is just for our information. none of this matters in the current discussion of whether crackers are an “essential practice” or not. As i’ve said before, Hindus can do as they please. no one should be messing with our traditions even if this material didn’t exist.