RANG BARSE! GET YOUR FILL ON E-PICHKARI, COLOUR GLASSES
This hidden gem in Sadar Bazar has all the dope on essentials Holi
Colours, balloons, masks, pichkaris — everything you need for Holi will be available in some of the quirkiest avatars at this hidden gem in Sadar Bazar. Run by Pawan Aggarwal, this tiny shop is a haven for festive essentials. “This year, the electronic pichkari gun is the new craze,” shares the 50-year-old owner of the store that has been in Deputy Ganj for the past 20 years. “Main market mein jo saaman hafton se sold out hai, yahan apko roz mil jayega as we restock every day,” he informs.
Aggarwal feels that Holi is not only about colours, food and fun games but also a chance to go #VocalForLocal. Offering four different styles and designs of just the battery-operated water guns, he says, “Pehle sirf Chinese maal aata tha, lekin ab saara maal yahin banta hai. If anything goes wrong, we can fix it or replace the part.”
He happily tells us about his hottest-selling wares this year. “Bachhe khoob aate hain Holi ka saaman khareedne... They are very fond of e-pichkari, which can throw water up to a distance of 25 feet. Koi gun jaise use karke khelta hai, toh koi unicorn wali design lekar khush ho jata hai.”
This isn’t the only quirky stuff; they also stock unique colour glasses. “Just pour water into the glass, and it acquires the colour of gulaal. Ek hi glass se 150 baar paani wala rang ban jaata hai,” informs Aggarwal.
He also feels for the festival’s impact on Nature, and motivates buyers to go for floral and herbal gulaal. “Inmein kuch chemical nahin hai, koi milawat nahin hai. It is completely organic. These gulaals are made purely from flowers, and their fragrance lasts longer too,” concludes the shop owner.
Hathoda-style pichkaris, inspired by Bollywood films Gadar 2 and Animal (both 2023), are a hit among shoppers. I’m selling more than 300 every day. PREM CHAND, Shopkeeper
Electronic pichkari is the latest craze. It’s made in India, and these battery-operated water guns can throw water up to a distance of 25 feet. PAWAN AGGARWAL, Shopkeeper
From quirky water guns to herbal gulaal — here’s all that you can get for Holi at Delhi’s Sadar Bazar