Delhi's street kids splash colours of innovation

The ‘pichkari’ made of used carton sheets with hand prints sprays dry gulal

Street children of Capital’s Lajpat Nagar have ‘invented’ a unique pichkari.

While the city is getting ready to soak in the bright colours of Holi and not wanting to be left behind, street children have turned ‘inventors’ to indulge in the fun and frolic that comes with the festival.

Not to be outdone because of the lack of money to celebrate the festival and soak in the colours, street children living and working in the Lajpat Nagar market have made for themselves what they are calling “3D – dry, degradable and designer – pichkaris .”

Speaking about the innovation Sanjay Gupta of Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action (CHETNA), a non-government organisation working with street children, said: “This Holi we have our children turning innovators. Working among themselves they have invented a unique ‘

pichkari’ that they will be using this Holi. The children we work with here (usually rag pickers) have been coming to our centre to learn art and craft and through these classes they stumbled upon the idea of gifting themselves this wonderful

‘pichkari.’

The children’s

‘pichkari’ is made of used carton sheets with hand prints used to decorate the ‘pichkari’ . The children fill the ‘pichkari’ with dry gulal and when pushed the children’s ‘ pichkari’ sprays dry gulal.

“The best part of the ‘pichkari’ is that it is made of rags and degradable material and it allows the users to play with only dry colours which are relatively safe.

“Needless to say that the children are thrilled with their invention and is now talking about even attempting to make it in bulk for next year. This year they will use their

‘pichkaris’ to play Holi and later work on the design to iron out any deficiency,” said Mr. Gupta.

Stating that the children are looking forward to a day filled with colour and fun on Holi, Mr. Gupta added that this: “Simple yet very significant effort by the street children” has made them happy”. “The children living and working on the streets have shown that they are brilliant and just need an opportunity to showcase their talent,” added Mr. Gupta.