Kolkata: In Kolkata, broom sales shot up on Tuesday on the occasion of Dhanteras. While north Indian communities in Kolkata used to purchase brooms on this day as it is considered auspicious, it has now gained widespread acceptance among all Hindu citizens. The practice is rooted in the belief that brooms eliminate negative elements and create space for prosperity. This aligns with Dhanteras' connection to Goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to favor clean households.
"Probably due to numerous social media reports, purchasing brooms on Dhanteras day has now turned into a common ritual for all," said Suruchi Agarwal, who has been buying brooms on this day for the last 16 years. She came to Jadubabu's Bazar from New Alipore with her relative Ava Agarwal to purchase brooms along with puja items on Tuesday afternoon.
Shreosee Goswami, a Shyambazar resident shopping at Hatibagan market, shared, "I started observing it since last year after I came to know about the tradition from one of my non-Bengali friends at work."
A street vendor, Amit Kumar Sahoo, who purchased 600 brooms wholesale for his S N Banerjee Road stall, sold out all most of the stock by late Tuesday evening. The increased demand has led to higher prices, with brooms typically priced at Rs 40-100 are being sold for Rs 100-150.
Elgin Road resident Sneha Sahu follows the tradition of replacing old brooms with new ones on Dhanteras. Businessman Umesh Shah from CIT Road considers buying brooms on this day beneficial for financial well-being. "I bought a pair of broom, salt, sugar and cumin seeds as per our traditional family rituals apart from silver items," added Shah.
Dhanteras holds significance in Hindu mythology as the first day of a five-day celebration encompassing Diwali and Dhanvantari Jayanti, honoring Lord Dhanvantari, the divine healer and ayurvedic deity.