Painting The City With Holi

GUWAHATI: The festival of colours is upon us and people’s spirits are lifted with anticipation of having a good time with friends and family. The festival of Holi brings colour to the lives of many as they gear up to smear and douse each other in bright colours. This festival would be dull without the rainbow of colours, which have been dutifully provided for many years by a group of 40 from Kanpur.

The Kanpur group sets up their kiosks in Fancy Bazaar and this year too, without fail the team has arrived. One Rahiz Ali, who has been visiting the city since the past 15 years has brought 8 quintals of Holi colours, along with Mohammad Ali, who has been visiting since the past 5 years and teenager Sharukh Khan, who is selling with his father, have also set up store.

The powder colours range from Rs 100 to 150 per kg, while the water colours range from Rs 40 to 100 per 50 gms. A local Rabi Das from Fatasil Ambari, has been importing colours from Kolkatta since the past 5 years and asserts that his colours are better in quality than the Kanpur team. “I supply colour brands like Kumkum, Maharajah, Cheetah and Natkat. My colours are not harmful to the skin and should be used to ensure a safe holi”, Das proclaimed.

The festival has not stayed limited to only colours in recent years and people can be seen in wild attires embracing the spirit of the festival. Children can be seen with various types of pichkari having a colour fight with each other. A pichkari can cost anywhere between Rs 20 to 500, while a new brand known as Tank costs Rs 650. Guns cost around Rs 180, T-shirts Rs 150, fun masks around Rs 25 to 100 and caps around Rs 100 to 150. With the variety in the market, this holi too is expected to be one of the most fun festivals to be celebrated in the city, brightening it with colourful paints.

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