With the festival of colors just around the corner, markets, as is the tradition every year, are filled with Holi colors, sprayers, and other decorations – this time with a touch of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
As customers go shopping this Holi, they are increasingly rejecting Chinese products and preferring locally-made Indian products. The TLN Team visited Nagpur’s famous Itwari and Gokulpeth Bazar and found that most traders are offering Made in India colors, pichkaris, and gulals, among other items. “By and large, the public’s responses are more towards Indian products. Consumers are more inclined to buy local products, and Chinese products are no longer as attractive among buyers,” said Javed, a vendor at Itwari Bazar who is selling such items. He also mentioned a few local manufacturers who specialize in Holi products and are in high demand.
“Make in India initiative is moving ahead. People come to our shops and ask us to show only local products,” Javed added.
In the past, Chinese products largely were the only options for consumers, but it has drastically changed for the better with several local makers making inroads in this segment. “I demanded Indian products…Chinese products have declined and Indian products are replacing them,” said a customer Ravi.
Another customer Rajiv, who visited Gokulpeth Bazar to purchase Holi products for his children, said, localised manufacturing is giving jobs to people.
“I came to purchase ‘pichkari’ for my children and I felt nice that all items that are on display in the markets are India-made. Chinese products are nowhere to be seen,” Rajiv added. Quality in Chinese products seemed to be a major concern among consumers and traders.
Notably, demand for Holi products too fully recovered after the pandemic-led low-key celebration.
“Demand for pichkaris has been high. We are only selling Indian products. Demand for Chinese products in Indian markets declined due to rising complaints from retailers as they cannot be returned in case of defects,” said Mohamad Babar, another vendor.