Jharsuguda: The festival of colours Holi, which is due in four days, Industrial town markets have started adorning a different look with herbal and organic colours and made in China “pichkaris” (water guns) lining shops. This time conscious about their skin, residents are dabbling only with safe options for celebrating the festival of colours.
According to shopkeepers, Chinese designer “pichkaris” that are cheap and available in a variety of styles are giving tough competition to Indian “pichkaris”.
A wholesaler on Main Road, Ajit Paul said, “We have organic and herbal colours in stock that range from Rs 200 per kilogram to Rs 300 a kilogram, according to the fineness of colours. Among Children’s Water Bomb ranging from Rs.5 to Rs. 10 along with various types of Cartoon shaped Mask like Spiderman, Angry bird, Sponge bob, Mickey Mouse are in great demand.”
Another wholesaler, Kishore Kakani said, “These days’ Chinese “pichkaris” are in demand because there is a huge variety available.” He added that ordinary colours are harmful for the skin and publics have become more aware of its affect, so they prefer buying herbal colours and we also always bring herbal colours for selling.”
Children’s are excited about celebrating the festival with great pomp and show. A Class VIII student of DAV Public School Kapil Agrawal said, “As my examination are getting over two days before the Holi, I have planned to celebrate this Holi with friends. It is my favouriate festival because this festival it allows to put various colour on anybody.”
Here, in Jharsuguda, even Barista Nagarik Sangh (Senior Citizen Association) has taken out awareness flyers and distributing it and requesting public for not use any dark and Varnish colours rather use Herbal colours. “For last few years we have been requesting people and children’s not to use any harmful colours and asking to use Herbal colours which are not all harmaful for the skins” said Baristha Nagarik Sangh Co-ordinator Arjun Lal More
