Trade during Holi in Dhanbad this year is likely to be less than 25 per cent than the usual of around Rs 500 crore in previous years.

A combination of factors have contributed to this, the first being the rise in Covid cases besides job loss, salary cut, decreased income of entrepreneurs and school admission pressure.

President of Hirapur Chamber of Commerce, Sanjeev Chaurasia told The Telegraph Online: “Ever since the end of brighter period of lagan season of November 25 to December 15 we were harping on Holi sale to compensate for extremely dull season of last three months but the latest wave of Covid has destroyed our expectation.”

“Those who have lost their jobs during the last year are not in a position to invest but those who are in job are fearful of losing jobs during the next phase of retrenchment due to covid scenario aggravating day by day,” said Chourasia.

Ashish Jindal a gift shop owner of Dhanbad said, “though there is no dearth of items as we have brought new products of Herbal colour and gulal but he fearing of getting infected due to touching the articles during Holi has percolated among the people they only making limited purchasing to complete the formalities of Puja etc."

“The admission season in schools coinciding with the Holi also affected the market this year apart from other factors besides investing on admission people are compelled to purchase books and stationeries and uniforms,” said Jindal.

Former president of Purana Bazar Chamber of Commerce, Md Sohrab said, “in our place a Purana Bazar which used to be flooded with customers every year there are limited footfalls and even those who are coming are making some limited purchasing of essential items thus the market sentiments are completely down.”