Delicacies Flood City Markets Ahead Of Bhogali Bihu | Guwahati News
Guwahati: With less than a week left for Bhogali Bihu, the festival of feasts, many places of the city have started to stock up essentials for the celebrations.
Many places in the city, including Ganeshguri and Beltola markets and even the streets in many city pockets are flooded with items like different rice grains, jaggery, sesame seeds and other essentials used for preparing Bihu delicacies.
Apart from the raw materials, the sellers coming from the lower Assam districts of Nalbari, Barpeta and Mangaldai have also brought homemade pithas (a traditional Bihu delicacy made from rice powder, coconut, sesame seeds and jaggery), ladus to sell in the city markets.
A seller from Nalbari in Ganeshguri market, Anil Das, said he expects to earn a good profit this year like the previous years. “Bora rice is being sold for Rs 70-80 per kg, Joha rice for Rs 75 per kg, coconuts are sold for Rs 100 per pair. While black sesame seeds are being sold for Rs 250 per kg, jaggery for Rs 80 per kg,” Das said.
“The packaged pithas and ladus have various prices. A packet of pithas is being sold for Rs 50-60. Similarly, a packet of ladus that contains 10 pieces cost Rs 50,” said another seller from Nalbari.
However, some customers in Ganeshguri market said the prices of the items have increased manifold compared to the last year. “Amongst all the items, the price of sesame seeds has increased surprisingly. Last year, sesame seeds cost Rs 180-200 per kg, which has increased to Rs 260-280 per kg this year,” said a customer.
Ahead of Bihu celebrations, people in different parts of the state have also geared up for building “bhela ghar”, which is an integral part of the festival. The bhela ghars resemble Chandrayaan, Ram temple and Kutub Minar among others. Made of bamboo, banana leaves and thatch, these structures are burned early in the morning of the first day of the Assamese month of Magh when people offer prayers to the god of fire.
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