With the beginning of Chhath on Monday, hundreds of people were seen doing last-minute shopping for the next three days’ rituals.
On one side, denizens were seen purchasing items like fruits, chulha, wood and baskets, on the other side street vendors felt relieved to sell these items in the same rate of previous year.
Notably, rituals for Nahay-Khay were held on Monday. Kharna rituals will be done on Tuesday. Argya is scheduled on Wednesday whereas Paaran is to be held on Thursday.
Popular markets for Chhath items like Doranda, Daily Market, Kutchery, Kokar, Sector-2, Shalimar Bazaar, Shahid Chowk, Harmu, Kanke road and Bakri Bazaar were seen flooded devotees buying puja items with traditional Chhath songs played at nearby temples.
Notably, waste collectors of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) were noticed having the rotten bananas used for Chhath puja at Hinoo.
Street vendor Archana Devi at Doranda said, “Similar to last year, this year also the rates of all the puja items like dry coconut, mud-made and iron-made chulha will increase till `20 to 30 than the fixed rate in the next three days. Thereafter, it will reduce.”
Similarly, sugarcane seller Vikas Kumar said, “Today pair of sugarcane sticks is available between `20 to 25. It may probably rise to `35 but not more than that.”
Women who observed the puja were accompanied by family members in performing the rituals accurately. The mercury dip seemed to have least affect on them. “I have been keeping fast and performing Chhath puja at home for over a decade. It is because of this reason, I have come down from Madhya Pradesh since the puja items are not available in of the shops there,” said Vibha Sinha, a resident of Chutia.
The young leaders of most of the colonies have framed their committees for the convenience of people.
One such leader Niraj Gupta near airport said, “It feels good to assist residents during festivals. I have been working for such causes for last five years when I was pursuing my under graduation.”