Vendors at PU add colour to Holi

Amarjot Kaur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 20

Stationed not very far from the madding crowd at the Student Centre, vendors at Panjab University (PU) main market added colour to the university’s Holi celebrations.

With charpoys decked with dry tints, wigs-cum-caps, colour-smoke bombs, spray guns and mouth-whistles, exhibited at the porch of the shopping complex, some eight vendors, mostly from the university’s provision stores, were tickled pink with a heavy footfall of visitors.

For Yashpal, who works as a peon at the Bhai Ghanaiya Ji Institute of Health in the PU, the colour stall meant an extra buck. He has been weathering the poor-health blues and suffers paralysis in his left leg.

“For a day’s work here, I’ll be able to make Rs 300,” he said. “I do get Rs 14,000 a month working as a peon, but I have a family to support. I do such menial jobs to make some extra money. I’ll spend this on my healthcare now,” he added.

Sitting right next to him, 9 to 9 Shoppers store’s Rajat Gupta shared, “I got Holi accessories and colours for Rs 10, 000 and have sold most of it. It’s been a good Holi this year.”

Vishwanath of JD Provision Store was rather gung-ho over colour-smoke bombs. With curious millennials sparking colourful smoke bombs one after another right in front of his stall, one wondered if he could do with a demo on how the lit wicks worked! “These colour-smoke bombs are selling like hot cakes; everyone loves them. You can even hold them in your hands and light fire to the wick. Look how the colourful smoke goes up in the air. This is a profitable proposition, with each smoke bomb priced at Rs 30. I’ve made good money today,” he said.

With Holi paraphernalia stacked in the boot of her car, which was parked right outside the Mittal Medical Store, Promila Mittal and her little son were busy selling funky Mohawk wigs. “Since its Holi, you don’t want colour to stick to your hair. These wigs have sold well, but colour-smoke bombs take the cake. We have them in all shapes and sizes. I have earned a good profit too,” she said.