This Shravan, devotees are in a deep trouble. They want to go vegetarian in the holy month. But the price of pleasing Lord Shiva is too high.

Devotees of Lord Shiva prefer to eat vegetarian food in Shravan, beginning on Tuesday. Some even avoid eating onions and garlic.

Residents, who would have saved money on food till last year going vegetarian for a month, have no relief this year. Except potato, most of the vegetables are selling at a high price because of supply shortage. The vegetable market looks similar to the almost deserted chicken, fish and mutton shops.

“We are caught in a devil and deep blue sea kind of a situation. Once Shravan begins, we have to eat vegetarian dishes only. But the prices of vegetables have skyrocketed. People like us are left with hardly any option but to survive on potatoes, cheaper than other vegetables,” said Surendra Singh, a resident of East Boring Canal Road.

Some residents expressed disappointment recalling the situation during Shravan last year.

“Every year, I observe this holy month with purity. I recollect having bought an entire week’s vegetables in Shravan last year for Rs 300. But I have to spend between Rs 500 and Rs 600 for the same this year. There is no other option. As I cannot consume non-vegetarian food, I am forced to spend extra on vegetables for a month,” said Vishwa Vijay, a resident of Rajvanshi Nagar.

With the devotes going for vegetarian dishes despite high price of vegetables, there has been a drastic dip in the footfall in eateries and restaurants in the town. Mauryalok complex, renowned for its Chinese food joint, remains deserted with most people staying away having turned vegetarian.

The prices of chicken and fish have plummeted by Rs 20. But the rate of mutton has remained unchanged at Rs 300 per kg.

Taslim Alam, a chicken shop owner at Boring Road roundabout, said: “Our sales plummet in Shravan. We do a daily business of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 rest of the year but it varies between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 during Shravan.”

Ravi Kumar Singh, the owner of Nirvana restaurant on Boring Road, said: “Every year, we make separate seating arrangements for devotees and prepare special dishes for them with mushroom, babycorn and other vegetables.” But Singh admitted that business has been dull this year because he had to jack up the prices of the delicacies because of high vegetable prices.