Bamboo cannon

A bamboo cannon (Malay: meriam buluh, Jawi: مريام بولوه ; Tagalog: lantakang kawayan; Waray: lantaka, Indonesian: meriam bambu, Javanese: mercon bumbung) is a type of home-made firecracker which is popular during the Eid season in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as during New Year's Eve celebrations in the Philippines.

The carbide reacts immediately with the water releasing acetylene gas, which has the widest range of explosive limit of any common chemical and a very low ignition energy.

Adding too much carbide does not increase the energy of the explosion but instead weakens it due to high fuel to air ratio[citation needed].

In West Kalimantan, on the banks of the Kapuas river, there are Bamboo Cannon Festivals, which are celebrated a week before Idul Fitri.

[7] The combination of air and flammable fuel in the pipe's enclosed space when ignited by a spark from the trigger mechanism or by a little fire causes the mixture to combust.

In the Philippine city of Kidapawan, North Cotabato, the Kanyóng Kawayan Festival is held from 14-20 December to promote safer noisemaking alternatives during the Christmas season.

[9] In December 2007, health department officials maintained the ban on the devices, reminding the public with press releases, flyers and awareness campaigns.

[5][7] The Philippine National Police announced in December 2024 that they would suppress continued use of the devices notwithstanding the prevailing ban, and would track down people making boga tutorials online.

The PVC cannon is a prohibited weapon in the Australian state of New South Wales, along with other devices which are designed to propel or launch a bomb, grenade, rocket or missile by any means other than an explosive.