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Anna merchandise sparks buying frenzy
Caps, badges, 3D masks -- protests have never had this many accessories
The populist movement led by Anna Hazare has ignited a spirit of activism, spurring citizens from various parts of society to take to the streets waving flags and wearing unmissable "I am Anna" caps.
Apart from a common purpose -- to stand against corruption and to bring about effective reform -- certain common factors have helped the protesters forge an identity.
At every street corner and traffic signal, and in tons of shops around the country, Gandhi-style caps with the legend "I am Anna" are selling like hotcakes.
"I have specially come to sell Anna caps -- his fast has boosted my business tenfold so I almost make 3,000 rupees a day," said Rama, a street trader who moved to Delhi from her village on the outskirts of Haryana.
It is not just Rama. Many have been cashing in on Anna mania. Hazare's efforts have given birth to a personality cult, which is evident in merchandise sold across the country. It is just not caps, but T-shirts with Hazare's slogan and pictures as well.
Major T-shirt brands have jumped on the anti-corruption bandwagon. Tantra recently launched a line of T-shirts emblazoned with anti-graft slogans.
Protests always offers good opportunities to make some quick money, which is all too apparent while browsing through Anna goodies.
"Madam, I offer most unique Anna merchandise from Anna badges, to his caps, 3D masks and pens as well," said a street seller, in a very enterprising way.
With the nationalist fervor running strong, the sale of the tricolor has reached a peak as well. A vendor in Sardar Bazaar, one of the largest wholesale markets in India, said he has lost the count of number of flags sold and cannot keep up with the demand.
"It is just not flags, but tricolor wristbands, scarves and small badges are in huge demand as well," he said.
Riding the wave, entrepreneurs (though mostly children) offer to paint pedestrians' faces with a small tricolor flag for Rs 10.
Shadid, a high school student, has been at it for last 15 days.
'"I made good money painting people faces with flags first near Jantar Mantar now at Ramlila Maiden," Shadid said.
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