Not only vegetables and common commodities but Diwali diyas are also ready to burn the pockets of consumers this time. Thanks to inclement weather and spiralling prices of every thing porters have doubled the price of their product.
Small diyas which were available at Rs 30 for each 100 till last year are now available for more than Rs 60. Prices for medium and bigger size diyas have also gone up to Rs 80. Moreover, there is a huge gap between demand and supply of the earthen diyas in the market. Many people are returning empty handed from shops due to unavailability of earthen lamps. A porter at Kishorganj Sabita Devi explaining her plight said, “Earthen items have got wet due to continuous rain from last few weeks as a result of which we could not make required number of earthen lamps.”
Earlier Sabita use to sell one lakh bigger diyas and 70,000 small diyas but this year she had in her stock only 30,000 bigger ones and 2,000 smaller earthen lamps. “We are in great trouble as are suffering from huge loss. Diwali is the time where we make an extra buck but intermittent rain doomed our business to a great extend,” added Sabita.
Meanwhile, demands for Chinese lights have increased due to shortage of earthen lamp. Huge crowd was witnessed on the electric appliance shops. Owner of Jagdish Enterprises at Upper Bazar Sanjay Poddar said, “Sales of Chinese lights are impressive this year. laser lights worth of Rs 50 are in great demand. People from different walks of life are coming in search of Chinese lamps to make their Diwali bright.”
Another shopkeeper also said that he is dealing in these items from last five years but the profit margin of this year is quiet high in comparison to previous year. These lights have become a good substitute for residents of State capital. Anita Desai who came with her children to purchase Chinese lights said, “This year there is acute crisis of earthen lamps in the market. Diwali is a symbol of light so to maintain the trend we are purchasing these lights. Moreover, in this economic downturn, it is economical for me.”