Chinese water guns popular this Holi

Lucknow, Mar 1 (UNI) Colourful Chinese water guns and pistols have flooded the domestic market for the upcoming 'festival of colours' -- Holi.

Made of light plastic, a whole range of Chinese 'pichkaris' (sprinklers, water guns and water sprays) are selling like hot cakes in the markets.

Priced upward of Rs 10 for a water pistol, these Chinese water guns are also available with a price tag of Rs 2,500 for a large 'machine-gun' capable of holding 6 litres of water at one time and offering unlimited scope of Holi revelry.

This 'arsenal' of Chinese-origin comprise a whole range of 'arms' to suit every pocket and size. On offer are water pistols, rifles, guns, machine guns and rocket-launchers, packaged in attractive polythene jackets to lure children and an odd adult too. Take your pick.

Roadside kiosk to big outlets are choc-a-block with these Chinese toy guns, which have wrestled out the Indian varieties from the market, both at the end of retail sellers and buyers alike. But, no one seem to complain.

''People do not prefer Indian water guns, since Chinese counterparts are visually vibrant and durable, besides having better production quality and finish,'' Anish Agarwal, a vendor at the Sadar Market here told UNI.

The Chinese goods, which made a humble entry in the Indian markets about three years back, now hold a virtual monopoly in the water gun segment, he remarked.

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