Ranchi: City markets are awash in a riot of colours as Holi is approaching, transforming Lalpur, Doranda, Upper Bazar, Morhabadi and other areas into vibrant hubs of festive shopping.Temporary stalls have mushroomed across major chowks and roadside stretches, their counters piled high with neon pink, electric blue and sunshine yellow gulal. Bundles of colourful water balloons hang like garlands, while shelves gleam with cartoon-shaped pichkaris, metallic water guns, backpack-style spray tanks and even smoke colour bombs, a new attraction among teenagers this season.Shopkeepers say sales have picked up sharply over the past week. “Evenings are seeing heavy footfall. Families are coming together to shop, and children are excited about the new fancy pichkaris,” said Ramesh Agarwal, a trader in Lalpur. He added, “People are asking specifically for organic and skin-friendly gulal. Parents are more careful now. From rose-scented pink powder to turmeric-based yellow, demand for natural shades has grown steadily.”Despite the surge in herbal colours, traditional bright powders, glitter gulal, silver sprays and quirky Holi-themed sunglasses continue to attract youngsters. “We buy herbal products for elders and bright colours for friends. Holi without vibrant colours feels incomplete,” said college student Ayush Kumar at a stall near Morabadi vendor market.Beyond Ranchi, the eco-friendly trend has gained momentum in other districts as well. In Khunti, women of Champa Mahila Mandal from Belahati village under Tirla panchayat are preparing herbal gulal using spinach, beetroot, turmeric and palash flowers. The chemical-free colours are available at Palash Mart in Khunti. Similarly, in Simdega, self-help groups from Thetaitangar, Bano, Kersai and Jaldega blocks have launched herbal gulal under the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) initiative, promoting safe and environment-friendly celebrations.With loudspeakers playing festive songs, shopfronts draped in colourful buntings and shoppers bargaining animatedly, Ranchi wears a distinctly festive look, a city dipped head to toe in Holi hues.
