Several thought firecrackers were being set off, then a man fell bleeding, his dog also shot.
The victory is celebrated by firecrackers and lights to signify the triumph of good over evil.
Others spoke of flames that were 30ft (9m) high, and trees that looked like firecrackers.
Firecrackers can be heard on the island at all hours during the 15-day Lunar New Year period.
The government had earlier reported a marked decrease in sales of fireworks and firecrackers in the capital.
Expect Chinese musicians, firecrackers and a great deal of noise: needed to get the evil spirits out.
Setting off firecrackers to drive away bad luck and welcome the new year is a centuries-old Chinese tradition.
U.S. manufacturers were the first to make firecrackers and raincoats, and then decades ago, that production moved to China.
In the city center, a divided district, government supporters tried to drown out the noise by setting off deafening firecrackers.
Long strings of firecrackers were set off in the narrow streets of the French Quarter, enveloping the entire block in smoke.
Firecrackers and drumbeats to ward off evil spirits break the silence, and wafting smoke fills the air as the macabre parade begins.
Throughout the Chinese New Year holidays, fireworks and firecrackers are traditionally set off to ward off evil spirits when ushering in the new year.
That is because the tradition of setting off firecrackers during this time of the year causes a large amount of noise, air and ground pollution.
There are festivities in the streets with firecrackers, fireworks, and sparklers.
The explosive power of consumer fireworks is governed by federal law, which since the 1960s has banned powerful firecrackers with names such as M-80s and cherry bombs.
There were Congress celebrations when victory became clear, with dancing supporters cheering, clapping and letting off firecrackers in front of party leader Sonia Gandhi's house in Delhi.
On Saturday night, the government counted a total of 839 fires caused by revellers setting off fireworks and firecrackers across the country on Lunar New Year's Eve.
Even those setting off the firecrackers would dart out into the road, light the fuse and then rush back into a doorway to take shelter from the downpour.
Beijing News reports an appeal from environmental groups for residents to light fewer firecrackers and fireworks - an important tradition - in order to keep the air clean.
Worshippers pray for prosperity and well being for the year that lies ahead, with fireworks and firecrackers proffering plenty of raucous razzle-dazzle when devotional formalities come to a close.
They argue it might be quieter in Hong Kong, Malaysia or Singapore but the new year's atmosphere in Taiwan is more festive because of the real sound of firecrackers.
In the foiled Times Square bombing of 2010, authorities said one of the three devices would-be bomber Faisal Shahzad had assembled was a pressure cooker containing more than 100 firecrackers.
Beijing has launched a firework safety index during the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays that advises against setting off fireworks and firecrackers in poor weather conditions, China Daily reports.
Local lads joined in the fun, releasing deafening firecrackers.
It turns out that when large numbers of firecrackers are exploded in a confined space such as a pressure cooker, the effects can be devastating especially if they are surrounded by makeshift shrapnel like nails.
Even late at night, residents can be kept awake by a nearby restaurant's loud pet goose, supermarket or restaurants' ventilation fans and freezers, temples or businesses setting off firecrackers to seek divine protection at ungodly but auspicious hours.
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