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Arch political rivals and on opposite political spectrums, PM Narendra Modi, UP CM designate Yogi Adityanath, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati would be seen playing Holi together in Sangam city, courtesy their life-like facemasks that are selling like hotcakes in local markets in the run-up to the festival.
However, like the recently concluded assembly elections, here too masks of BJP top brass, Modi and CM in waiting Yogi, are most in demand.
“Among several items that are on sale for Holi, facemask and wigs are the best sellers for us and this year too, facemasks are in great demand. However most in demand are facemasks of PM Narendra Modi,” said Mohd Qadir, a wholesaler having his shop in Chowk.
The price of these masks varies as per their quality between ₹ 50 a piece to ₹ 200, he added.
Along with Modi, masks of designate chief minister of the state, Yogi Adityanath, despite making its debut in a chunk of the markets this Holi has become an instant hit.
“This is for the first time when people are asking us for Yogi facemasks but as the supply is limited, we are helpless. So, they have to take either Modi mask or that of different Marvel characters like Hulk or that of Chimpanzee, Doremon etc, said Sanjay a local shopkeeper of Civil Lines locality.
Interestingly, following the debacle of the Congress party in recent assembly elections, the common man is showing least interest in the top leadership of Congress party this Holi. Market in the Sangam city is also full of various varies of colours, pichkari or water guns and other items on the name of Modi, Yogi and Kejriwal besides Bahubali and different popular cartoon characters etc but unlike previous years, there is hardly an item named after Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi which was, till last year, in a neck to neck fight on the popularity chart among Holi revellers.
“We are also sad to see that none of the items has the face of Rahul or Priyanka and that shows the decreasing popularity of the party and party’s disconnect with the masses,” said one of the old-timers of the congress party.
“We will sell whatever is in demand even though I support Congress but when there is no demand for items with Rahul or Priyanka’s faces, what can I do,” said Suresh Agarwal, another shopkeeper of Prayagraj.
The sale and demand of ‘bulldozer Colours’ have witnessed a 40% rise in the multi-crore colour industry. The name bulldozer colours have been given to chemical-based colours which leave their impact for two to three days on the Holi revellers.
Like these masks, colourful wigs are also in great demand. “Be it male or female buyers, wigs are becoming quite popular, one reason could be that it saves the hairs from getting spoiled and above that it gives a unique-funny identity to the holi reveller,” feels Gopal Keservani, a shopkeeper of Katra.
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