Aurangabad, March 26:
For two years in a row, the lockdown has been declared during the Holi festival, causing huge financial losses to traders. While Dhulivandan is just two days away, the colour shops in the city were deserted on Friday. A total of 40 tons, about 36 tons of colour remained unsold. Now it is up to the sellers to store the colour throughout the year.
Holi and Dhulivandan will not be celebrated again this year due to the curfew and lockdown imposed by due to Covid-19. The city had 10 tons of colour left last year. This year, wholesalers had imported 30 tonnes of colour from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh and Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. The orders are placed two to three months in advance. Traders had ordered colour powder in January as there was a decline in corona-positive patients. But by the time the colour arrived in the city, the number of corona patients had increased. Powder colour is sold at Rs 40 per kg. The market will be closed for three days on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. As a result, traders were expecting a good sale today. Over the last week, 4 tonnes of colour was sold at wholesalers to retailers. But on the last day, many traders were seen waiting for customers.
Colour shops deserted
A tour of the market on Friday revealed that vendors from old Mondha, Rajabazar, Gulmandi, Supari Hanuman road, Aurangpura and Kumbharwada were waiting for customers.