MUMBAI, INDIA, September 15, 2007: : The Ganpati festival is just a few hours away. Unlike last year when festivities were toned down in the aftermath of July 26 floods and the epidemic that claimed nearly 1,000 lives, Mumbaikars will celebrate the festival in full swing, albeit with their belts fully tightened. Prices of Ganesh Deities and other important ingredients like fruits, flowers and sweets are soaring this year. Organizers of hundreds of Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals around the city and suburbs may not feel the pinch as they run the show on public donations. But devotees who celebrate the festivals at home, will have to shell out more for every item.
Small Deities, that account for nearly 90% of total production are in great demand. And a demand-supply mismatch is the reason behind the price hike, say market sources. Retail prices of the Deities is up by 20-25%. “A sharp rise in the cost of inputs like plaster of Paris, jute and color have led to the increase,” says Satish Sawant, who has opened a makeshift studio in Vashi.
The small version of the Deity shot up to US$1.37 to from $1.05 a year ago. Similarly, medium-sized ones fetch $11.25 against last year’s price of $8.00. The price of bigger Deities have jumped by $25 to $87.50. Many Deities are ferried from Pen to different parts of the city. As there is no authority to fix prices of Deities, Deity makers and retailers are exploiting the situation, lamented a housewife in Vashi.
Deity makers, on the other hand rue the rise in studio rentals, where they give the finishing touches to Deities. “I am paying $525 for my studio compared to $375 last year,” says Deity-maker Sunit Hazare in Vashi. Prices of fruits like apple, banana, sweet lime have also spiraled, but not entirely for Ganesh festival. “After 33 years Ganesh Utsav and Ramadan(Muslim holy month) have come close to each other,” said Uttamchand Vasani, VP of APMC Fruit Merchants Association. Both the occasions demand fruits and hence prices have gone up, he added. “Modak and Ganesha festival go hand-in-hand. Demand for modak will pick up once the celebration begins,” said Ramesh Gupta, owner of Shivekripa Sweets. However, prices have gone up by 10%, he admits.
All in all, though Mumbai will echo to chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya,” at the same time citizens will surely look for a helping hand from Lord Ganesh, the “vighna harta” (remover of obstacles) to make the festival a real success.