Polls bring windfall for local manufacturers of Holi colours in UP: Survey

Shops selling Holi merchandise register 40% rise in sales

The poll season seems to have brought some much-needed cheer for the manufacturers of Holi colours and cannons in and around Uttar Pradesh (UP), noted a just-concluded survey by ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation.

During the course of past one month, ASSOCHAM representatives interacted with about 100 manufacturers/suppliers/traders of Holi colours, water guns and other such products in Allahabad, Hathras, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, and Varanasi that are known world over for their Holi festivities.

Besides, ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation also interacted randomly with about 200 shopkeepers in prominent wholesale and retail markets selling Holi merchandise including colours, water guns, balloons, t-shirts and other such items in 10 cities including those in states that are awaiting election results – Ahmedabad, Dehradun, Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Panaji and Patiala.

The survey was conducted by the Social Development arm of ASSOCHAM to ascertain the impact of elections in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab and other states on sale of Holi merchandise.

“Though the Holi festival has been used by political parties across most parts of India to connect with the masses and bond with voters, but the election season has certainly made it lucrative for colour manufacturers in and around UP where this festival is celebrated the most,” said Mr D.S. Rawat, national secretary general of ASSOCHAM while releasing the findings of the chamber’s survey.

Highlights of survey:

Majority of respondents said they are doing a brisk business, though many people purchase colours, sprinklers and other such items in bulk for parties but this time around there is an element of much excitement owing to poll season and results that would be out a day ahead of Holi.

Most of the shopkeepers said that there has been a rise of up to 40 per cent in the sales as many supporters are buying pichkaris, colours and merchandise plastered with the images of different political parties’ symbols and demand for such things is growing by the day.

Interestingly most of the manufacturers in aforesaid cities of UP and shopkeepers in cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Ludhiana and Patiala said they have stocked fancy cannons and colours at their stores as cadres of political parties contact them with bulk orders.

Many said they have come up with innovative water guns, colour sprays and balloons with stickers or prints of various political parties and most of the stuff has been sold as people try to avoid last-minute rush.