Agartala Turns "Chemical-less" this Holi amid Coronavirus Fear

Agartala, March 10, 2020: 

The capital city of Tripura, Agartala today is celebrating Holi with the traditional Gulaal, thereby replacing the chemical-based and water-based colors.

The deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) has prompted the government to put restriction on use of China-made Holi goods during the festival of colours. People of Agartala today celebrated Holi with Gulaal. The use of chemical colors has also apparently decreased to nearly zero.

With the scorching sun glowing with majesty, students and people from almost every age-group came out to play Holi. The prime locations of the city, City centre, Haradhan Sangha lake, Heritage park, the locations where usually the young brigade spend time remained jam-packed since the morning.

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Speaking to Inside Northeast, Daniel Debbarma, a student of Holy Cross college Agartala said, “Yes, there is a palpable tension among us regarding the Coronavirus but we can’t leave our traditional practices due to that. Even almost all the students of our college have taken Holi resolution that we would not use a single pinch of chemical color while celebrating the festival. We have only brought Gulaal and in the traditional way we are celebrating the festival."

[caption id="attachment_54449" align="alignnone" width="660"] Image Courtesy: Mrinal Banik[/caption]

Saniaya Debbarma of ICFAI University who have come to Heritage park Agartala with his group to celebrate Holi also said that they never used the chemical colors, which were deemed harmful for the skin as well as imported from other countries. “Abir(Local name of Gulal) is the only thing that we use to celebrate in our campus or wherever we go to greet people during the festival”, said Heena.

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Ankita Chakrborty, a housewife, who is celebrating her Holi with his new family for the first time said, “Holi comes as an auspicious occasion for the Bengali community people and celebrated across the state with devotion. There is fear among the masses, but it can not really impact the festive ambience of the festival” .

However, the Holi sales in the markets have also witnessed bit tough time with less people buying the highly profit making chemical colors. “The sales of chemical colors dipped all-time low this year. The Holi goods such as water balls and water guns are not greeting sold as it was earlier. Whereas, the Gulal is of high demand in the market” Satya Saha a dealer of colours in Maharaj Ganja Bazar, the biggest wholesale market of Tripura said failing to give any specific data of the sales.

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