Kolkata: "We are not selling Chinese colour. Most of the customers are first searching for the 'Made in China' label on the colour packet and then purchasing it. We are only selling herbal colours. The sale
this year has dipped by 75 percent due to the coronavirus phobia among people," said Md Salam, a shop keeper at Bagri market selling colours for Holi.
The tale narrated by Md Salam is not an isolated one as everyone selling colours for Dol and Holi is narrating the same story after coronavirus scare engulfed almost every nook and corner of the nation.
"The market is not that as it was last year. Every year, our stall used to brim with customers. This year the scenario is different. We are selling a 100-gram packet of colour at Rs 20," said a shop keeper at Gariahat market.
The state Food Processing and Horticulture department, in collaboration with a self help group (SHG), is selling herbal gulal, also known as abeer, during Holi celebrations. The herbal abeer manufactured by a self help group is being sold on the ground floor of Mayukh Bhavan in Salt Lake.
The sales started on Monday and continued till the day before the festival.
"Every year, I prefer buying herbal colour. The conventional colours are very harmful and can cause skin allergy and eye irritation. I bought herbal colour worth Rs 200 for Holi this year," said S Ghosh, who bought colour from Bagri market.