Chinese-made Holi toys flood Bengaluru market

It appears Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative has a long way to go before it becomes successful.

Ahead of Holi, a large number of toys used in the festival of colours, and made in China, have hit the Bengaluru market.

The traditional Pichkaris (water guns) seem to have disappeared from the market only to be replaced by modern fancy toys which include mobile phones, water tankers, machine gun models, popular cartoon characters like Doraemon and Chhota Bheem, fancy shapes like swan, fish and duck and various types of fancy guns. Each of these Chinese toys costs between Rs 75 and Rs 600, depending upon its size and design.

Traders say fancy toys are driving a higher sale compared with previous years. The toys are more popular with children than college students or young men who are not convinced about their quality. Still, Prakash Patil, a shopkeeper from Rajajinagar, says sales have been encouraging.

Suresh, a shopkeeper from Vijayanagar, concurs. He says people are ready to experiment with new items and their higher cost hasn’t dampened the festive spirit. In short, sales have been good. With summer setting in, children love to play with water. Since water gushes from the new Pichkaris, people are going for them.

Overall, however, the festive spirit has been dull this season because of school examinations. Still, school and college students were seen enjoying the festivities on Thursday, a day before Holi.