While the boycott of Chinese-made crackers and Diwali decorations like lighting remains resolute, the vibrant hues of Holi find themselves adorned with water guns and gulal (dry colours), with a notable presence of Chinese products in the local market.
Every shop, retailer, and street corner is filled with Chinese pichkari (water guns), which are attractive and give Indian manufacturers a run for their money.
The claim of making the celebration completely ‘Made in India’ hasn’t stood the litmus test, with traders and consumers professing to boycott goods manufactured in China during this festival of joy, yet failing to hold true to their promise as Chinese goods continue to abound in the market.
Paramjeet Singh Pamma, chairman of Federation of Sadar Bazar trade Association, said while the presence of Holi items made by China in India’s market on the festival is considerably low, it still has its presence. While speaking on the share of Chinese and Indian goods, Pamma said, “The presence of Chinese products in the market is significantly low this year compared to earlier. But it hasn’t been completely annihilated.”
There is a change in the trend of consumers’ preferences and choices. While the sale of Chinese and Indian products was 60 and 40 per cent respectively last year, the share has reversed this year. “Indian manufactured products are leading the sale,” he said.
In fact, elections which are often referred as the biggest festival of Indian democracy also seem to seep in the Holi festivities.
“This year water guns shaped like a hammer have come to the market, along with those having the face of political leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,” said Pamma, adding that customers are also liking water guns with the face of the deceased singer and rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, whose parents have just landed themselves in a controversy after giving birth to a child through IVF.
He also predicted that the sale in Holi this year will end the bane of Covid finally, with the mood of festivities being set in the country since the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya in January.
He said, “This year we feel that Holi will break all records and end the dry patch that has occurred since Covid pandemic. One reason behind this is because people were in a celebratory mood since the consecration ceremony of Ayodhya Ram temple.
“This becomes more important since Holi marks the beginning of the celebrations in the country. The upcoming festivals of Janmashtami, Eid and others will also follow the same trend then.”
Founder of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and BJP’s candidate from Chandni Chowk seat Praveen Khandelwal on Friday said, “There’s an estimated increase of nearly 50 per cent in business during the Holi season nationwide, resulting in a business worth more than Rs 50,000 crore. In Delhi alone, the expected business is around Rs 5,000 crore.”
Khandelwal also claimed that the imported Holi-related items in the country has been approximately Rs 10,000 crore, however with traders and consumers boycotting the imported products for celebrating their religious festivals, import was negligible.
