Sivakasi

Sivakasi Little Japan of India
Municipal corporation
Image of town around the tower of Badrakali Amman Temple
Nickname(s):  Little Japan of India, Cracker City of India
Sivakasi Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu Show map of Tamil Nadu Sivakasi Sivakasi (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 9°27′12″N 77°48′09″E / 9.453300°N 77.802400°E / 9.453300; 77.802400
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Virudhunagar
Revenue Division	Sivakasi
Taluk	Sivakasi
Founded by	Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian
Named for	The deity Shiva and the city Kashi (Varanasi)
Government
• Type	Municipal Corporation
• Body	Sivakasi Corporation
Area
• Total	46.27 km2 (17.86 sq mi)
Elevation	127 m (417 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	160,047[1]
Demonym	Sivakasian Sivakasikaran
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	626123, 626124, 626189, 626130
Telephone code	04562
Vehicle registration	TN 67, TN 84, TN 95
Website	virudhunagar.nic.in

Sivakasi is a city in Virudhunagar District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city is known for firecrackers and match factories that produce 70% of the country's produce. The printing industries in Sivakasi produce 30% of the total diaries produced in India. The industries in Sivakasi employ over 25,000 people and the estimated turnover of the firecracker, match making and printing industries in the city is around ₹20 billion (US$240 million). The major issues in the city are the frequent accidents in the firecracker factories and the high level of child labour.

Sivakasi was established in the 15th century during the reign of the Pandya king Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian. The city was a part of Madurai and has been ruled at various times by Later Pandyas, Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks, Chanda Sahib, Carnatic kingdom and the British. A major riot during the British Raj took place in 1899.

Sivakasi has a dry weather, making it suitable for dry crops like cotton, chillies and millets. Badhrkali Amman temple is the most prominent landmark of Sivakasi, and the temple festivals constitute the major festivals of the city. AJ and Hatsun Indoor Stadium has a coaching center for badminton and is the major sporting venue of the city. Sivakasi is a part of Sivakasi constituency and elects its member of legislative assembly every five years, and a part of the Virudhunagar constituency that elects its member of parliament. Sivakasi is locally administered by a municipal corporation which covers an area of 6.8 km² (2.6 sq mi). Roadways is the major mode of transport to the city, while it has also got rail connectivity. As of 2021, Sivakasi has an estimated population of 160,047.^[2]