Yeah Sumi, I know what you say! I remember when my daughter was born the first diwali she went thru was when she was 3 months old! The crackers noise! OMG she trembled with fear and everytime she hears the sound she shivers and had trouble sleeping! We stopped crackers playing long before that but then I realized how it must have been for many! But sparklers I still feel playing in one collected area is better than playing in every houses!
I had been to an open ground once in Mumbai..called Shivaji Park...that place is really in action during diwali. I got the worst asthma attack after that ...bad throat and was down for a week thats why I avoid these places and stay indoors.