New Delhi, Oct. 24 -- Kolkata's markets are already grappling with rising prices, and with Kojagori Lakshmi Puja scheduled for Sunday, households are facing an additional burden as they prepare for the festival. From idols and puja essentials to vegetables and fruits required for the traditional bhog, prices have added to the cost of festive shopping.
At Jadubabur Bazar in south Kolkata, Lakshmi idols are available at prices ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 1,600, depending on their size and finish.
However, a seller said prices had increased by around Rs 100-200 per idol compared with last year, citing higher transportation costs.
Khichuri and a vegetable dish are among the quintessential offerings prepared for Lakshmi Puja bhog. However, the rising cost of vegetables is adding to household expenses. At Koley market, potatoes are selling at Rs 30-40 per kg, pointed gourd at Rs 40-45, pumpkin at Rs 20-25, ridge gourd and radish at Rs 35-40 each, and beans at Rs 60-75 per kg. Tomatoes are priced at Rs 35-45 per kg, while brinjal costs Rs 35-45, with some varieties selling at Rs 60 per kg. Spinach is comparatively cheaper at Rs 15-20 per kg.
Other essentials are also adding to the bill. Coconuts, a key puja offering, are selling at Rs 35-65 apiece, depending on size, while homemade coconut naru costs Rs 400-700 per kg.
While some traders said the increase in prices remained manageable, others complained of sluggish sales and shrinking profits. Buyers, meanwhile, said prices had risen compared with previous years but that the household ritual could not be skipped.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.