Ranchi: With Chhath Puja just days away, markets are witnessing a surge of shoppers stocking up on essential puja ingredients. The city’s bustling vegetable markets are filled with vibrant displays of fruits, flowers, and other ceremonial items.
Items like sugarcane, coconut, bananas, apples, and oranges are flying off the shelves. Water chestnuts are being sold at Rs 80 per kilogram. Prices have spiked due to increased demand, with bananas at Rs 40 per dozen, apples atRs 100 per kilogram, and coconuts ranging from Rs 35 to Rs 50 each. Meanwhile, bottle gourds cost Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg.
Sellers are working overtime to meet the demands of customers preparing for the festival. A vendor at Upper Bazar, Samal Kundu, said, “We’ve stocked up on all necessary items, including fresh water chestnuts, which are popular during Chhath. We’re doing our best to keep prices stable.”
Meanwhile, buyers expressed concerns over rising prices. Sunita Devi, a Lalpur resident, said, “Prices are higher than last year, but we have to make these purchases for the puja. It’s a matter of devotion.”