Plastic floods the ,arket, But in the old city the 'Chambu' still holds its pride

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

As Holi approaches, markets overflow with plastic and Chinese-made water guns. Yet the old city stands apart kept alive by Chand Mamu and his family, who have crafted traditional 'chambus' for 50–60 years across three generations.

The chambu also called dholchi is a metal sheet container filled with coloured water and thrown during celebrations, earning it the nickname 'phatka'. Once made by 3–4 families in the city, today only Chand Mamu's family continues the craft.

A three-generation legacy

Now 65, Chand Mamu recalls watching his grandfather and father make chambus since childhood. Preparations begin six months before Holi. This year, 12 artisans under his supervision produced 15,000 chambus, each priced at Rs 50.

Custom metal pichkaris

Beyond chambus, Chand Mamu designs and manufactures his own steel, brass, and copper pichkaris. Steel pichkaris (rs 350- Rs 700) last 5- 10 years, with customers often returning 15-year-old ones for repair. This year, 200 steel pichkaris were produced. Premium brass pichkaris at Rs 5,500 have also seen demand, with 20 units sold so far.