post news network, Bhubaneswar, May 15: As the festival of the married women, Savitri Puja, to be celebrated Sunday, draws nearer, the prices of fruits threaten to go through the roof. People, who are busy making preparation for the day, are a bit worried with the increased prices of the fruits as women only eat fruits during the day.
Banana, mango, jackfruit, pineapple and coconut are the major fruits, which are in high demand during the Savitri Puja as these are the fruits sent to a daughter’s house, along with other things, on the occasion of the Puja.
While the jackfruit is selling at Rs120 a piece, coconut is Rs25 a piece, a dozen of banana Rs70 and mango Rs50 a kilo. These are the base price, which may go further up depending on the market you are buying from.
Trinath Behera, a fruit vendor in Rasulgarh said, “The prices of all the fruits, however, have not increased. Fruits like mango, pineapple, jackfruit and banana are the main fruits, which sell during the Savitri Puja; as the demands of these fruits are high so the prices of those have only increased. Last week, we were selling banana at Rs50 per dozen, now its price is Rs70, mango is Rs50 today, last week it was Rs40 per kilo. This price rise is temporary. After the festival, the prices of fruits will again come down.”
Another fruit vendor Santosh Kumar Sahoo, who sells fruits near Ram Mandir said, “During festivals, the rate of fruits always increases and that is very common. Immediately after the festivals the prices go down. During the Savitri Puja prices of only a few fruits like banana, mango, jackfruit etc. increase, whereas other fruits sell at the same price it sold for in the previous week.”
“Savitri Puja is an important Puja for the married women, during which they eat fruits and soaked pulses after worshiping the Goddess and taking blessings from their husbands. Fruits are essential during every festival. The fruit vendors know this and that’s why they increase the prices and as customers we are compelled to pay a high price,” said Meena Rath, a housewife.
“The prices of all the fruits have increased during the last three days. I knew this would happen that is why I purchased a bunch of bananas a week ago. I think that fruit vendors are not selling fruits at reasonable prices and there should be some regulation. During every festival they charge according to their wish and customers are left with no option,” said Nandita Mishra another housewife.
