Residents purchase soop and daura from a shop at Mithapur roundabout in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Oct. 27: Devotees of the Sun God will feel the pinch this year as they visit markets to buy the necessities for the Chhath rituals.

The rising prices of commodities, which are expected to go north as Chhath comes near, transportation costs and demand will make the residents loosen their purse strings. Prices of the most commonly used items during Chhath, especially soop and daura (bamboo basket), are almost 50 per cent higher than last year. Unfortunately for devotees, the prices will rise even more.

Last year, a pair of soop cost the residents Rs 50-60. This year, the same pair of soop is priced between Rs 80 and Rs 100. Similarly, a piece of daura was priced between Rs 100 and Rs 120 last year. However, the cost has gone north by almost Rs 80. This year, devotees are coughing up anything between Rs 180 and Rs 200 for a daura.

The figures are expected to climb higher from Saturday when the residents would gather in hoards at the shops. Shop owners point at transportation costs for the rising prices.

Jagdish Prasad, who sells soop and daura at Mithapur roundabout, said: “In the past one year, prices of petrol and diesel have increased by almost Rs 15 per litre. This has in turn increased the transportation cost of soop and daura that are brought from north Bihar.”

Markets get a supply of soop and daura mostly from Purnea and Chhapra in Bihar and Sahebganj, Madhupur and Jamtara in Jharkhand.

A minimum of five fruits is offered to the Sun God during Chhath. Adding to the woes of ardent devotees are the rising prices of coconut.

Mohan Gupta, who has opened a coconut and lemon shop near Mithapur, said: “The prices of these items will spiral in coming days because of rise in demand. Devotees generally prefer to purchase all the necessary items before pehli arghya. The prices go north on the day of pehli arghya and doosri arghya.”

Last year, a pair of coconut cost residents Rs 50 to Rs 60 but this year the prices have gone up to Rs 80-100 a pair. Gupta said: “Coconut is supplied from Assam and Bengal and in coming few days, the prices will go up further because of the demand.”

However, shelling out more on such items has been nothing new for the residents of the state capital.

Price rise has been the trend of the season with residents paying more for almost every item during Diwali. All items, from gold to crackers, is costing people dear.

The cost of the yellow metal has jumped by almost 50 per cent since last year, as has silver. While 10g gold cost people around Rs 19,000 last Diwali, this year the same cost Rs 27,200. The price of silver went up from Rs 32,000 per kg to Rs 55,000 per kg this year.

Atanu Roy, proprietor of Roy Jeweller and Bros at Mauryalok Complex, said: “This year, our customers mostly went for light-weight jewellery like rings, earrings and small pendants because of the soaring gold prices.”

Cancellation of licence to cracker sellers in the Patna City area also sent the prices north once the district magistrate issued temporary licences to the shop owners.