Holi: Prices of water guns, colours see an upswing

LUDHIANA: Holi, a festival of fun and frolic, is round the corner and the local bazaars are colourfully decked up. Be prepared to pay extra if you are enthusiastic about playing Holi as prices of pichkaris (water guns) and colours have shot up.
A new entrant in the market this time is the Chinese pressure gun, tank water gun and Ben-ten water tanks whose prices range from Rs 50 to Rs 500.These water guns have become a favourite with kids in the 10-14 years age group. As shopkeeper Harish Kumar of Happy Gift Palace at Dandi Swami Chowk, testified, they are in great demand. Kumar said, "What's special about these water guns is that they can sprinkle water up to a height of 50 to 100 feet. The water guns resembling pipe guns can also sprinkle colour up to a height of 20 feet. While buying colours and water guns, a customer from Dugri Phase II Laddi, said, "Since my children are nowadays free from the clutches of exams, they forced me to bring them along with me to the market for buying water guns. The prices are very high this time, but that cannot stop the kids from having their share of fun."
Normal colours are available at Rs 50 to Rs 150 per kg. Colour-lovers also have another option in 'party popper', that goes up in the air and spreads a variety of gulal. Balloons' packets are priced at Rs 5 and Rs 10 for the 40 and 100 pieces varieties respectively.
Harish Dhanol, talking to TOI at a shop at Model Town market, said, "Economic slowdown did not affect sale of water guns. Though these are more costly this year as compared to last year, they are selling like hot cakes. Double-barrel guns, Chinese pistols and water cannons being sold at these shops are cheap as compared to those being sold in posh localities."
Another shopkeeper, Sanjay Kumar, said small pistol water guns are popular among children as they are easy to handle. Rajan Kumar, who has set up his stall in Ghumar Mandi, said, "It seems kids from well-off families have no interest in traditional pichkaris."
'' cherrupreet.kaur@timesgroup.com