Friday, 18 March 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The footfall in marketplaces during this Holi season is certainly better than in the past two years but it is not close to the pre-Covid times. The local shopkeepers of Dehradun opined this on Thursday on being asked about the shopping spree of locals this Holi.They said that rather than spending on popular Holi items like water guns, many are spending on food items. A local shopkeeper in Paltan Bazaar, Gopal Kumar said that the number of customers this time is certainly better than last year but it does not mean shopkeepers did a great business this year. He said, “The sales of balloons and water guns are low this year, especially those which are meant for young kids. Holi is the first big festival of the year and good sales during this time keep the morale of the businessmen high for the upcoming festivals. Like last year, colourful caps, gloves and varieties of water guns were introduced in the market to attract customers but it still failed to attract the customers like it did during the pre-Covid times.” Another shopkeeper Manoj Rai, who runs a grocery store but also sets up a separate stall for Holi every year, said that people are spending more on food items than the items which are generally used to play Holi. “We ordered different types of water guns and other popular items for Holi, especially those enjoyed by kids, but I was not able to sell even 50 per cent of the stock a day before Holi. However, I saw a hike in the sale of edible products like Besan, Maida, Urad Dal among others which are generally used to cook delicacies on Holi. Their sales certainly increased this time compared to last year,” said Rai. The president of Doon Valley Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DVMUVM) Pankaj Masson said that many people lost their loved ones in the second wave of Covid-19 last year and since it is not even a whole year for many, they are not indulging in any celebratory activities. He said that it might appear through the increased footfall that the marketplaces are flourishing but it is nowhere near to the business during the pre-Covid times.
