LUCKNOW, Feb. 28 -- Festive shopping has gathered pace across Lucknow as Holi draws near, with markets offering a striking mix of traditional colours, technology-driven toys and politically themed merchandise, reflecting changing tastes and contemporary influences. Busy markets such as Yahiyaganj and Bhoothnath are showcasing a wide variety of products, including electronic neon pichkaris, fragrant 'anar'-style gulal fireworks, Khatu Shyam-themed three-arrow water guns, missile-inspired designs resembling BrahMos, and 16-shot multicoloured herbal gulal fireworks. With state elections due next year, political themes are also visible in festive merchandise. Alok, a trader in Yahiyaganj, said water guns featuring slogans such as "Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Holi" and "Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar" are drawing buyers. "Rubber and plastic masks resembling Narendra Modi are selling for around Rs.100. Umbrella-shaped pichkaris for younger children, along with Spider-Man and Batman masks, are also popular. Artificial two-braid hair accessories for girls are another attraction," he said. Technology-driven toys are a major highlight this season. Musical rifle-shaped water guns powered by two batteries spray coloured water while playing music and are available in two- and three-nozzle variants priced between Rs.300 and Rs.700. Blending faith with festivity, several pichkaris are modelled after mythological weapons such as tridents, maces and battle-axes. Designs inspired by the 'Brahmastra' and BrahMos missile, along with novelty shapes like snake charmers' flutes and hammers, are particularly appealing to children. Rachit Agarwal, another trader in Yahiyaganj, said high-end electronic pichkaris are attracting tech enthusiasts. "An electronic pichkari priced at Rs.2,100 features a moving shower mechanism and can spray coloured water up to 8-10 metres, with built-in lights for night use. A Minecraft-themed electronic pichkari costing Rs.1,500 and a neon-lit version priced at Rs.1,800 are also available," he said. Traders report rising demand for Holi fireworks as well. Shekhar Gupta said sales have increased by nearly 30% compared to last year. "Products include a 16-shot gulal firework that releases multicoloured herbal powder bursts, an 'Ice Cream Anar' emitting fragrances such as vanilla, blueberry, strawberry and mango, and the 'Harry Potter Pencil', which releases fragrant herbal gulal when lit," he said. Gulal prices range from Rs.12 per packet for arrowroot-based colours to premium varieties costing up to Rs.2,000 per kilogram. High-end options include golden-coloured gulal that produces a shimmering effect when applied, along with lollipop-flavoured organic variants....