Ranchi: The Lalu-Rabri brand seems to have lost its spark this Diwali. Firecrackers named after the railways minister and his wife were a staple, but have gone missing this year to give space to item girl brand firecrackers and star cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"There are no Lalu bombs, Lalu engine, Lalu rocket, Nitish pataka or Rabri phuljhari this year. It is surprising," said Mohammed Rizwan Ahmad, a shopkeeper. "We are selling hot girl and item girl brand firecrackers," said Arvind Kumar, a wholesale agent. He added that earlier the Lalu-Rabri brand outsold all others. "The high sales of the Lalu-Rabri crackers were the accepted index of their popularity among the people," said Kumar. In Ranchi, not just firecrackers but also sweets are named after Dhoni. The Dhoni brand has emerged top, competing with filmstars like Vidya Balan, Kareena Kapoor. "Dhoni firecrackers have captured more than half the market," said Praveen Mangal, a shopkeeper. The Dhoni range starts at Rs 50 and goes up to Rs 700.

It's our duty

Dhoni fans are enthusiastic. "I have purchased Rs 1,800 worth of Dhoni crackers. Dhoni has made the people of Jharkhand proud and it is our duty to make his brand successful," said Rajesh Sen, a student of St Xavier's College from where Dhoni is pursuing his graduation degree.