Glass industry in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, has an ancient history which dates back to the time when invaders used to bring glass articles to India. During that era, the rejected glass articles were collected by the local folks and were melted in the local furnaces known as Bhainsa Bhatti. This marked the initiation of glass industry in Firozabad. These ancient traditional furnaces are still used in Sasani near Aligarh and at Purdal Nagar and wood is used as a fuel. Initially only one bangle at a time was made in these furnaces and the bangles were devoid of any joint. The bangles were termed as `Kadechhal Ki Chudi`. Firozabad has been the site of a major glass industry since that time and extensively manufactured white and coloured glass pieces which found their utility in assembling of chandeliers. Chandeliers had a great demand in the royal courts and were used as exquisite embellishments. Later, containers for scents and other cosmetics products were also made. Gradually the industry began producing marriage ornaments in a large scale. The place manufacturing such products became popular as Suhag Nagar as it fulfilled all the ornamental needs of married women, also known as `suhagins`.
Firozabad has acquired a special place in the production of colourful and artistic glassware since 1989. Presently, the place has registered four hundred glass industries which are specialized in manufacturing varied glass products. Nowadays natural gas is used as fuel. These products have also substantially captured global market and half of the total production of Firozabad is exported.
With time, the place has emerged as a major hub of producing beautiful glass based artefacts. The artefacts have also diversified with time and include a variety of product such as candle stands, jars, flower vases, electric wares, decorative lights and many others. Vibrant colours and gorgeous motifs adorn these products. Etching and fixation of other materials are also done on some of them to augment their beauty. Glass industry in Firozabad are broadly categorised into four groups. These groups include `glass art wares` comprising decorative items like toys and show pieces, `glass domestic wares` such as dinner sets and chandeliers, `glass hardware` including lab wares and automobile wares and `glass beads`. Firozabad is also famed as the world capital for beads.
