Patna: Patna is preparing for the Chaiti Chhath festival, which begins tomorrow, with markets buzzing with activity. From the GPO Roundabout to the railway station, shoppers are picking up soops (winnowing baskets), dauras (large bamboo baskets), and traditional earthen stoves, while a dedicated fruit and coconut market has been set up at the Market Committee premises. Following the end of Ramadan, shopkeepers have shifted their focus to festival sales.
At the Market Committee, vendors report that deliveries have already begun, including 50 trucks of apples, 60 trucks of bananas, 50 trucks of coconuts, 40 trucks of oranges, 40 trucks of guavas, 30 trucks of pomegranates, and 20 trucks of sugarcane. Seasonal items such as water chestnuts (singhara), lesser yam (suthni), turmeric, radishes, and wild fruits are also available. Bamboo soops are selling at Rs 50 apiece, while a crate of apples is priced at Rs 2,200.
Satish Singh, a local banana vendor, said that bananas from Karnataka are preferred this year, with prices expected to reach Rs 600 per bunch (ghaud) during Chhath. “Bananas from Hajipur are small and slender, and therefore less popular during the festival,” he explained. Devotees prefer larger, high-quality bananas for rituals, prompting vendors to import premium ‘Chiniya’ bananas from Karnataka, despite logistical challenges in road transport.
Fruit Prices Set to Rise
Fruit prices are expected to climb over the festival period. Apples currently sell for Rs 180 per kilogram, but may reach Rs 220 per kilogram during Chhath, according to fruit vendor Chandan. Oranges, sourced from Nashik, are expected to rise from Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kilogram, while Pomegranates from Nagpur may sell for around Rs 240 per kilogram. Coconuts, essential for Chhath rituals, are projected to cost between Rs 80 and Rs 100 each.
Brass Utensils See Surge in Demand
Brass utensils, considered auspicious during Chhath, are also in high demand. On Thakur Bari Road, shoppers are buying brass soops, Punjabi-style thaalis, iron stoves, and brass buckets. Prices for these items have risen by Rs 50 compared with last year. Among festival essentials, bamboo soops and baskets remain the most significant.
Vegetable Prices on the Rise
Vegetables are also seeing a price surge ahead of the festival. On Nahay-Khay, the first day of Chhath, devotees traditionally consume Kaddu-Bhaat (pumpkin and rice) along with leafy greens (Saag) and fritters (Bachka). This has led to a 15–20 percent increase in vegetable prices this year compared with last. Pumpkins are expected to sell for Rs 40 per piece, radishes at Rs 10–15 per kilogram, and Indian gooseberries (Amla) at Rs 30 per kilogram.
