Wed Oct 02 08:06:02 UTC 2024: ## Festive Season Brings Rush and Inflation to Bhagalpur Markets

Bhagalpur, India – The upcoming Durga Puja festival has brought a surge in demand for fruits, dry fruits, and puja materials in Bhagalpur, leading to a bustling market scene. However, the festive cheer comes with a price, as inflation has pushed up the cost of many essential items.

Dry fruit prices have seen a significant increase. Cashew, once priced at ₹780 per kilo, now sells for ₹940, while raisins have jumped from ₹200 to ₹240 per kilo. Other items like fox nuts (makhana), almonds, and dates have also seen a price hike.

Fruits are similarly affected, with pomegranates selling at ₹200 per kilo, up from ₹120 earlier. While the arrival of new apple varieties has provided some relief, other fruits like oranges and bananas are also experiencing higher prices.

Despite the increased cost, devotees are undeterred, thronging the markets in search of puja materials. The demand for these items has spurred a four-fold increase in business for merchants.

Puja material vendors have reported a significant rise in sales, with items like earthenware and incense sticks witnessing a five-fold increase in demand. However, concerns remain about the sale of counterfeit guggul, a key puja ingredient, which is often made using beetroot juice and sold at lower prices.

The festive season is expected to bring a boom to the fruit trade in Bhagalpur, with merchants anticipating a total turnover of over ₹3 crores during the Dasara celebrations.

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