Kathmandu, Sept. 13 -- Shanti Belbase, 53, was planning to make sel-roti for dar, a heavy meal eaten by women in preparation for fasting during the Haritalika Teej festival, for her three younger sisters, which began on Sunday.

But when she visited the market last week, she was perplexed.

"The prices of all commodities needed to make selroti, such as rice flour, sugar, edible oil and spices, have increased," she said. "Everything is super expensive."

She dropped the idea of preparing selroti, a traditional Nepali rice-based fried bread round in shape.

The price of a 20-kg sack of jeera masino rice has reached Rs2,700, an increase of Rs500 per sack. A litre of sunflower oil now costs Rs300, up Rs60 within two weeks.

The price of sugar...