People throng old bazaars to buy colours, water guns

Old Tharagupete Street, in Kempegowda’s Bengaluru, is the place for pichkaris, balloons, and more. Holi celebrations begin today.

The city is all geared up to come alive in a riot of colours soon. With Holi almost here, this Metrolife reporter took a little stroll through the city’s streets to check out the ‘josh’ in the city. Needless to say, it was very high.

Our destination was the Old Tharagupete road, the only place in the city with wholesale shops for Holi colours. It was quite a task to make our way through the bustling streets of Chikpet to get till here.

The entire Old Tharagupete street, with around seven to eight shops, was decked up for the festival. All the shops had an assortment of products like colours, water guns, balloons and more.

Age seemed no barrier for the many people who thronged these shops. From school-going students to senior citizens, Metrolife found all of them to be equally enthusiastic about the festival.

Nandana, an 11th-grade student who had come along with her parents, was eagerly looking at the various colours on display. “This is the first time I have come for Holi shopping. Holi is my favourite festival as this is the only occasion where my parents play along with me,” says Nandana.

An old couple in their 70s, buying all kinds of water toys and colours, revealed that they were shopping for the entire family. “We celebrate Holi in a grand way though it is not in our tradition. Our children, who are abroad, come back to India to celebrate the festival with us,” says Yogendra, 71, holding a couple of water guns in his hands.

Where to buy organic colours

Metrolife also spoke to the owners of some retail stores known for their Holi colours.

Ashwini Stores

This retail store in Basavanagudi has been selling Holi colours, ‘Pichkaris’ and more for more than 30 years now. The shop sells both organic and normal colours. A person from the shop said that only the kids prefer organic colours while elders prefer normal colours as the organic ones aren’t that bright. he also told Metrolife that business was down this year due to the exam season.
Where: Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi.

Satvik Organic

Satvik Organic has been selling Holi colours for over four years now. It stocks only herbal and organic colours. You can also visit their website www.satvikorganic.com and place an order for natural Holi colours. The store has branches in Jayanagar and Sarjapur as well.
Where: Mallikarjuna Temple Street, Basavanagudi.

Vriksh - The Organic Store

Vriksh has been selling organic Holi colours for around four years now. The colours are pure powders of vegetables and flowers, with no added chemicals. The attender at the shop said that their business has increased this year as people were more aware of the advantages of using organic colours.
Where: 3rd Main Road, Vyalikaval

Grameena Angadi

The store has been selling Holi colours for more than six years now. They mainly stock herbal Holi colours.
Where: Jayanagar 4T block.

C J Bharath Kumkum

The store stocks both organic and regular Holi colours. Along with the colours, they also stock many other Holi items like water guns, balloons and more.
Where: Old Tharagupete Road, Chickpet.

RKT Trading Co.

RKT Traders sells Holi colours and all the other paraphernalia. Where: Kumbarpet, Avenue Road Cross.