City traders stare at losses as Covid surge spoils Holi mood

BHUBANESWAR: With the state government imposing restrictions on public celebrations of Holi following a spurt in Covid-19 cases here and elsewhere, shopkeepers selling Holi items such as gulal, colours and water guns have reported huge losses. The low-key celebration of the festival has also caused a

significant drop

in the sale of

sweets

,

retailers

said.


“Most retailers start procuring Holi items nearly a month before the festival. Since everything had become almost normal and the Covid-19 situation was also not worrisome in February, most shopkeepers have ordered huge stocks of Holi items for this year’s festival.

Now the situation has changed a lot and sales have dropped due to the restriction on Holi celebrations in public. Most retailers will incur huge losses,” said Pabitra Sahu, a seasonal shopkeeper in Unit-IV area. He said he had bought stuff worth over Rs 1 lakh for Holi.


The festive spirit is also missing here, with only a few makeshift stalls selling colours, water guns, masks and other accessories.


“There are very few customers in the market. Even though we have reduced the price of some items to less than 50% and did not keep any profit margin, people are still not buying things for Holi. Since Covid-19 cases had reduced, we had expected to make brisk business this Holi,” said Santosh Kumar Patra, another businessman in Unit-1 market.


Sweet makers here complained of a drop in sales ahead of Holi.


“This year, we have made nearly 50% fewer sweets compared to what we make every year. People will not visit each other’s house and there will be no gatherings.

After year-long suffering, just when things had started to get back to normal, the fresh surge in Covid-19 cases has again brought fear,” said Bimbadhar Behera, owner of Nimapada sweets and secretary of Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Sangha, state level sweet-makers’ association.


Due to the fear of the second wave of Covid-19, most Holi parties in the city have been cancelled. Swapna Pati Foundation that organises herbal Holi celebration with unprivileged children every year has started selling herbal gulal packets in a mobile van across the city.