Holi goes hi-tech: E-pichkaris, colour blasters in demand; Delhiites prefer organic, fruit and herbal gulaal as gifts

NEW DELHI: Nothing is what it seems in Sadar Bazar's Holi market. The rows of brightly coloured large cylinders in some shops look like fire extinguishers, but are not. These are gigantic colour dispensers. They are so large that they cannot be lifted. They need wheels.

Delhi is getting ready for the festival of colours, and the cylinders are the rage. When TOI checked the capital's Holi stock in one of its busiest markets, these metal dispensers with hoses were the showstopper. The cylingers don't squirt out liquid colours. They spreay the gulaal in its powder form. Each cylinder can hold several kilos of coloured powder.


In Sadar Bazar's Bartan Wali Gali, several shopkeepers had the extinguisher-like colour sprayer. Some can spray 27 shades of gulaal in one burst. "Each cylinder carries about 2 kg of colour and starts at Rs 450," a seller said.

The shift this year is technological. Traders said there is a rise in the demand for electronic pichkaris. These are battery-operated water guns fitted with auto-suction technology that sprays a continuous stream of colour. "Bacche electric ki hi demand karte hain," says Laxmi Pandit of Laxmi Traders in Chandni Chowk.

There's also an "iPhone 17 Pro" water blaster that's selling out fast.

Yet, for every high-end colour dispenser, there are hundreds of mango-shaped pichkaris that cost Rs 5. It's an evergreen festival favourite.

There are also small-scale vendors selling "pakka" grease — the colours that will take days to disappear from your face.

Abhishek Jain (27) has spent the last 15 years watching trends change from behind his Sadar Bazar counter. "Every year, there is a new variety," he said, pointing to an umbrella-shaped colour shower that drenches revellers in a single pop. There is a Bahubali sword pichkari too. A strikingly realistic iPhone 17 Pro pichkari, with a back panel resembling the actual phone, is among Jani's fastest sellers. It costs Rs 50.

Some water guns are a nod to mythology with a playful twist. Sunny Ahluwalia (42), another trader, has squirters that are shaped like tridents and maces. There is a Pathaan-themed blaster and small axe-shaped squirters for small children. "This year, electronic pichkaris made in India are the biggest trend," Ahluwalia said.

The crates of fake mangoes — which are water guns — and the bazooka-style squirter are there too.

In Lala Lajpat Rai Market in Chandni Chowk, Ajit Narula, known as "Sardaji Toy Wale", has run Narula Toy Corner for 30 years. Here, battery-operated pichkaris range from Rs 250-2,000. The premium models — priced at Rs 1,500 — feature sound effects and laser lights that flash as water jets out.

Organic, fruit and herbal gulaal, including lab-tested variants, are in demand, particularly as gift options. "Premium packaging and chemical-free colours are selling well," says Shehzaad (56), a trader. But when it comes to playing Holi, many still reach for the traditional bright gulaal, he said. Buying habits, too, are evolving. "Many customers now order through e-commerce websites even if prices are slightly higher there. They prefer avoiding crowds. A significant part of our sales is now online," Shehzaad said.

In the packed lanes of Sadar Bazar, Sohail (22) sells what is called the "pakka rang" grease. Priced at Rs 50 for 250 grams, the stubborn pigment has its takers.

The merchandise has expanded beyond tees. Kurtas with "Happy Holi" prints are out on display. Bright wigs are in demand, and even party pyros — usually seen at celebratory events — are being repurposed to release bursts of gulaal.

Delhi's Holi markets reflect a festival that is constantly evolving.