Kesudo powder in demand this Holi

VADODARA: With eco-friendly and herbal colours becoming increasingly popular during Holi, the powder of kesudo or palash flowers that are found in the tribal belt of Vadodara and surrounding areas is in high demand. Several outlets selling Holi colours have started selling the powder.
The flowers used for making the colour in Vadodara are largely collected from the tribal belt where the flower also called as the 'Flame of the Forest' is found.The flower is seen with the onset of the summer only for a couple of months.
Mukund Rangwala, who has his shop in Chokhandi area of the city, said the demand for the colour had been growing consistently. "We get it from reliable sources and sell it at the shop. Since it is not available in very large quantities, there is always some shortage," he said.
Another shop owner in Race Course area, Rishikesh Jani said he had several customers who had to go disappointed as the powder was out of stock. "We had limited quantity and could not get more. I believe around 1,200 persons had to go back without getting the powder," he said.
The manufacturers have to start working well in advance to prepare the powder. Said Shailesh Waghela, who makes the powder in the city, "We have to rope in residents from Chhota Udepur region to collect the flowers that fall from trees. Our workers go there and collect these flowers that a dried to make the powder."
Waghela said besides the flower being a seasonal one, the other issue was that the powder could not be stored for a long time. "It gets infested with insects if stored beyond about three months," he said.