Sparkler

A sparkler is a type of hand-held firework that burns slowly while emitting bright, colored sparks. It burns at a high temperature (over 1000 °C), so it can be very dangerous.

Sparklers are particularly popular with children. In the United Kingdom, a sparkler is often used by children at bonfire and fireworks displays on Guy Fawkes Night, the fifth of November, and in the United States on Independence Day. They are called phuljhadi in Hindi – hence "Bengali" torches, candles, etc. – and are especially popular during the Diwali festival.

Sparklers are generally formed around a thin non-combustible metallic wire, about 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) long, that has been dipped in a thick batter of slow-burning pyrotechnic composition and allowed to dry. The combustible coating contains the following components; multiple ingredients can be used:

The colored spot on the top of each rod indicates the color of the sparkles emitted when ignited.

Sparklers are usually used for celebrations. They can be used for light painting. Due to the high (over 1000°C) burning temperature of certain compositions, they can also be used to ignite thermite.

Fountain candles are variants of the traditional sparklers. Instead of being coated onto a wire, the chemicals are packed into a cardboard tube. Those small tubes filled with chemicals that when ignited spew out a plume of glowing sparks into the air. The effect can last a few seconds (cake fountain candles), up to a minute (bottle fountain sparklers) or several minutes (special effects for stage shows and concerts). These devices all consist of some combustible materials packed into a cardboard tube with the length of the visual effect being determined by the amount and specific composition of the chemicals packed into the tube

Press reports have stated that fountain candles are believed to have been the cause of the 2026 Crans-Montana bar fire.

Also known as Bengal lights, Bengal candles or Bengal fountains, they are different from Bengal fire, a form of outdoor firework.