Four day long Chaath festival commenced on Wednesday by raising the festive fever high among the city residents. Market is adorned with puja stuff. If one takes a walk across the city will find that sugarcane, winnowing baskets, dab, diyas and other stuff are available in abundance in the market. Chaath devotees are busy in their shopping despite high prices of fruits and relate items.
The festive begins with nahay Khay ritual by eating kaddu (gourd) and rice. Devotees were found paying three times more price of items due to the festival. Gourd which was available at Rs 15-20 per kg few days back were now available at Rs 60 per kg.
Small winnowing baskets cost Rs 35 per piece. Dab is Rs 25 piece and sugarcane Rs 25 per stick.Kamla Devi who was purchasing at Nagababa Khatal said, “It is compulsory to eat gourd and rice on this day. It is true that festival shopping is making a bigger hole in my pocket but it is the need of the hour so have to purchase the requirement irrespective of their price.”
Echoing her, another devotee said, “Chaath is a ritualistic festival. We have to follow every ceremony. The vendors know the need of the hour so leaving no scope of making good profit out of it.”
On the other hand vendors claim that they are not earning good profit out of their sale. Mahesh Manjhi who had placed his stall at Bakri Bazar said, “Festivals use to be our high time of earning extra bucks but Durga puja and diwali was dampened due to rain and recession. In chaath also hike price is not providing as good profit as our purchase price is only too high.”