Gourd Price Beyond Chhath Devotees’ Reach, Milk Demand Rises

Ranchi: Chhath Puja, a vibrant and traditional Hindu festival, kicked off on Friday with the observance of “Nahay Khay”, a significant event where devotees take a holy dip and then prepare traditional vegetarian meals. The atmosphere was full of spiritual fervor as the first day of this four-day celebration unfolded.On this day, the price of bottle gourd, an essential vegetable for “nahay khay” observance, went up by Rs 5 per kg. Mamta Devi, a vendor at Nagababa Khatal, said, “The price of bottle gourd increased on the first day of Chhath Puja.” As Chhath Puja approaches, there’s a notable spike in the demand for milk for the Kharna Puja ritual in which kheer is an essential component. Kharna will be observed on Saturday. Basant Rawat, owner of Banty Khatal, said, “The consumers have already placed an advance order for 30 liters of milk. Usually, the demand for milk is about 23 liters a day. Furthermore, unlike on other days, we do not store the milk at home, rather, we distribute it to the customers from the khatal itself.”Saroj Devi, a devotee who will observe a fast on Chhath, said, “Since we do not wish to experience a milk shortage on this day, we prefer to order from the khatal in advance. Compared to dairy milk, khatal’s milk is considered pristine by its devotees. Before we start worshiping the festival dedicated to the Sun God, the body and psyche are purified through the observance of this ritual.”
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The Chhath festival in Patna began with the nahay-khay ritual on Friday. Devotees took a bath in the Ganga river before cooking and having a traditional meal. Marketplaces were busy with people buying bid materials, including bottle gourd. Supplies of fresh bottle gourd were received in bulk at vegetable markets. Devotees planned to visit the Ganga ghat for a holy bath and had already purchased clay stoves, mango wood, and bottle gourd. Utensils made of brass were in high demand, but eco-friendly bamboo products were also popular.