Shivratri, Ramzan push up fruit prices & sales of fasting essentials in Kolkata
Times of India | 28 February 2025
12 Kolkata: Fruit prices in the city's retail markets have increased in the season of fasting due to the recently-concluded Shivratri and the upcoming Ramzan month.
Bananas, which are a staple, are selling for anything between Rs 70 and Rs 80 a dozen, while watermelon is selling for Rs 40 per kg. Price of grapes also surged by almost Rs 20 to Rs 25.
With the month of Ramzan starting by the end of this week, sales of groceries, vermicelli, household items like utensils and crockery, and even clothes picked up significantly.
People are already buying bulk groceries and essential edibles for Sehri and Iftar, the pre-dawn and evening meals that mark the beginning and the end of the fasting month respectively. Many residents are also purchasing extra items to donate those to the underprivileged.
Special shops and pop-up stalls have already started making their appearances in key market areas. "The pre-Ramzan shopping provided a significant boost to the sales in the markets. Shivratri pushed up sales of fruits and dry fruits. Even new stalls selling Ramzan specialities have come up. The sales will pick up further at beginning of March when salaries are credited," said Tarak Nath Trivedi.
At Zakaria Street, vendors have started selling dates, vermicelli, dry fruits, and other Ramzan essentials. The iftar bazar will be set up once the month of Ramzan start. "People purchase items like gram flour, cooking oil, dates, dry fruits, and vermicelli, which have a longer shelf life, in advance," said Altaf Hussain, a store owner on Rabindra Sarani near Nakhoda Mosque.
Several exhibitions and Eid Souks in different neighbourhoods of Kolkata have been held over the past few weeks. At these events, people picked up clothes, footwear, and even household items for Eid. In the New Market area, traders reported a surge in footfalls of shoppers by almost 20% this week.
According to Afroz Khan, a retailer of garments at Simpark Mall, many families are choosing to shop early to avoid the busy Ramzan period. "With the weather getting hotter, many people prefer to shop before it gets too hot," he added.
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