With the festival of colours just around the corner, markets across the city are gearing up for the celebrations. Wholesalers in Itwari and Gandhibagh and retailers in Gokulpeth, Sitabuldi, Sakkardara, Kamal Chowk, Sadar, Jaripatka, Jaitala, and other markets are leaving no stone unturned to attract customers. They are displaying new designs of pichkaris, eye-catching caps, and masks in front of their shops, giving a festive look to the markets. There is a price rise of about 10-15 per cent on most products. However, traders are confident that the price increase won’t dampen the festive mood. In fact, they are anticipating 20-25 per cent more business compared to the previous season. Mohd Zeeshan Sheikh, a wholesaler based in Itwari, told The Hitavada on Sunday that traders are looking forward to making good returns during the festival.

 

“As Holi is one of the important festivals celebrated here, we have made elaborate arrangements for it,” he said. “We have maintained stock of all kinds of materials required during the festival,” highlighting that a wide range of pichkaris, water guns, caps, masks, and other items are available in his shop. It is important to note that most wholesalers ran out of stock during last year’s Holi, and thus they are now expecting good demand for the items. Accordingly, the sellers have been maintaining a good stock of all the items. However, Sheikh said that the full-fledged buying of Holi items has yet to kick off. “As of now, only retailers are buying the material, and we are expecting customers to come out after March 18-19,” he felt.

 

It is worth mentioning here that retailers from Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, Wardha and other adjoining places come here in Itwari and Gandhibagh wholesale markets to buy these products. Ramesh Kale, a retailer based in the Kamal Chowk area, said he expects to sell his entire stock. “I will sell the items even on the Holi Rang Panchami day falling on March 25. I can sense the excitement in the markets. And the price rise of 10-15 per cent is negligible for the customers,” he said. The retailers are offering ‘Mango tank’ pichkari in price range of Rs 100 to Rs 1000; pressure guns from Rs 80 to Rs 1200; pack of balloons from Rs 50 to Rs 150 and so on. There are attractive caps in a wide range of colours and shapes; face masks of cartoon characters, Holi colours, etc. The festival of Holi will be observed on March 25.