Are Bengal lights and sparklers the same?
Yes, Bengal lights and sparklers are essentially the same thing, with "Bengal light" being an older or more formal term for the handheld fireworks that produce bright sparks, named because the Bengal region was a key exporter of ingredients like potassium nitrate for them. While "Bengal light" often refers to flares (sometimes blue) used for signaling, it's also used interchangeably with the wire-based sparklers popular in celebrations, especially in cultures where they're called "phuljhadi".