Mon Jan 13 01:55:00 UTC 2025: ## Makar Sankranti Sales Dip in Bengaluru Amidst Rising Costs
**Bengaluru, January 13, 2025** – Sales of traditional Makar Sankranti sweets, ellu bella (a sesame seed, jaggery, and groundnut mixture) and sakkare acchu (sugar candy), have dropped in Bengaluru this year due to rising ingredient costs and a shift in consumer preferences.
Traditionally, many families made these sweets at home. However, increased prices of ingredients like coconut (now ₹300/kg from ₹180/kg), sesame seeds (₹300-₹400/kg), and jaggery (almost ₹100/kg from ₹40-₹50/kg), coupled with higher labor costs, have led many vendors to purchase wholesale instead of making them themselves. Mohammed Basha of M.M. Condiments and Dry Fruits, for example, has significantly reduced his stock, citing the increased costs. He reported a drop in sales, attributing some of the decline to health concerns among consumers.
While some vendors, like Manu of Sri Laxmi Srinivasa Homemade Condiments, continue to produce these sweets at home, they too have reduced production due to increased online sales and the time-consuming nature of the process. Suresh from Sree Prabhakara stores noted a trend towards colorless sugar candies and jaggery, reflecting health-conscious choices among customers.
Despite the price increases (ellu bella is ₹150-₹160/kg, sakkare acchu ₹150-₹200/kg), many consumers, like Asha Prakash, still purchase these sweets, recognizing their importance in Makar Sankranti traditions, even if making them at home has become too time-consuming. The overall trend indicates a changing market dynamic for traditional Makar Sankranti treats in Bengaluru.
First Piper 