Otherwise known for winter clothes, Potala Tibetan market, is getting a rather cold response from costumers this time. The stalls are stocked with woolen items but there are hardly any customers to attend. It is mainly because the seasonal business mainly depends on the mood of the weather which has been rather hot as the temperature has not fallen down to the expected low.
Weather data for this December shows minimum temperature as high as 7.1 degrees Celsius, which is quite warm in comparison to the minimum temperature of 5.9 degrees, recorded a year ago.
“The temperature of the city has affected our business. This time the temperature has not gone very down as compared to the previous year. By this time we would have sold much of the stock. Only 40 per cent of the stock has been sold till now. The whole month has passed expecting good sales but it did not happen. Even if the temperature falls in January it would not be much profitable for the business,” said Tenpell Current, secretary of the Potala market.
The stalls are offering sweaters, cardigans, jackets, shawls all at fixed rates ranging from Rs 400 to Rs 2000. “We start this business in the month of October and continue till January. December becomes the peak season for the sale. And by the end of January we sell almost all of the stock. In this scenario business goes on well. This time we were expecting the fall in the temperature but it did not happen. This time the business is not profitable,” he said explaining about the cause of the loss.
The refugee Tibetans mainly depend on the small businesses for their livelihood. The four months migratory business in Ranchi becomes the main source of income for them. The fluctuations in the business do happen. This time it is happening after four years.
The severity of coldness in the State is governed by the climatic condition of the North Western Parts of the country. last year there was a heavy snow fall by this time in the north western regions. This time the severity of snowfall is not so high which is why the temperature has not fallen down much this year. We are expecting the fall in temperature till 15 January, said Dr A Wadood of the Department of Agricultural Physics and Meteorology at Birsa Agricultural University Ranchi.
“Sometimes the business goes down. I regularly come to Ranchi for business this down market is happening after four years. Earlier we had to re order the materials but this time we could not even sell the stock we brought,” said Tenpell who comes to Ranchi for business from Dehradun.
Nevertheless, chances of snowfall in northern hills, is expected to warm-up their sale in the days to come.