Patna: The lanes of Musallapur Haat and Mithapur Market in Patna are bursting with colour, aroma, and the hum of trade as the Chhath festival — Bihar’s grand celebration of faith and nature — approaches. Pyramids of bananas, stacks of apples, and glistening pomegranates fill the stalls, while vendors shout prices above the din of crowd chatter and truck engines.
According to the Patna Fruit and Vegetable Association under the Krishi Utpadan Bazar Samiti, the demand for fruits this Chhath season has soared nearly 30 times compared to normal days. Hundreds of trucks carrying fruit have rolled into the capital from across India and beyond, creating what traders describe as the largest fruit inflow in recent years.
“This year, the demand is historic — unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Shashikant Prasad, president of the association. “People are shopping through the night. The market doesn’t sleep during Chhath.”
By the association’s count, the numbers are staggering. Around 200–250 trucks of bananas have arrived from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, with additional shipments from Hajipur. Another 200 trucks of apples have reached from Kashmir and Shimla, along with 70 trucks of imported apples.
The influx also includes 200 trucks of oranges, 100–125 trucks of pomegranates, 60–70 trucks of Malta, 40 trucks of seasonal fruits, and 30 trucks of imported grapes, complemented by 25–30 trucks from Nashik. From the north, pears from Amritsar (50–60 trucks) and plums and apricots (Aru and Aruh) (40–80 trucks) have arrived.
Traditional Chhath essentials are also arriving in record numbers: 80–100 trucks of coconuts, 60–70 of green coconuts (Dabh), 50–70 of pineapples, 60–70 of lemons (Gagar), and 60–70 of sugarcane, alongside 50 trucks of turmeric and 30–40 trucks of sweet potatoes.
Despite this massive demand, traders say prices remain largely stable, thanks to steady supply and advance arrangements. However, slight price increases have been noted for apples, pomegranates, and grapes, driven by festival-time preference and limited premium-grade stock.
“Supplies have been smooth this year,” said a vendor at Kadamkuan Market. “Even with heavy demand, rates are under control. Everyone wants to make sure devotees get what they need for Chhath.”
The association estimates that millions of Patna residents will continue shopping until midday on October 27, with heavy crowds expected across Musallapur, Mithapur, Kankarbagh, Bypass Road, and Patna City.
The buzz of commerce, devotion, and community has turned Patna’s fruit markets into the heartbeat of the festival — a reflection of the city’s unbroken connection between faith and livelihood.
As dawn breaks over the crowded haats, the rhythm of trade continues — the scent of fresh fruit mingling with incense, marking the arrival of Bihar’s most beloved Mahaparv: Chhath Puja.
