Nitish Kumar, Modi main rivals in Bihar's 'pichkari' market

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are rivals not only in politics, but also in the 'pichkari' market here as water sprinklers -- used to spray water on Holi -- with pictures of the two leaders are doing brisk business.

"Nitish pichkari and Modi pichkari are in high demand," shopkeeper Raju Singh said on the eve of Holi, the festival of colours.

Another shopkeeper Sanjay Swarnakar told IANS here that a water sprinkler with Modi's picture on it is selling for Rs.300 per piece.

"The price of Modi pichkari is more than that with Nitish Kumar's picture on it," he said.

"There are several pictures, including those of Bollywood actors and cricketers, in the pichkari market but Nitish and Modi are the two main brands," said Kunal Kumar, a college student. He bought two water sprinklers - one each with a picture of Nitish Kumar and Modi.

Shopkeeper Mohd Taj said pichkaris bearing the photos of the two are more popular than those with photos of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former chief minister Lalu Prasad.

Interestingly, there is no pichkari with a picture of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on it.

Demand for pichkaris with pictures of Modi is high among girls and the youth, Taj said.

Upbeat over the high demand for Nitish Kumar pichkaris, leaders of his Janata Dal-United said their leader is a popular figure.

(Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in)