Guwahati: Makers of bamboo baskets and trays which are in great demand during Chhath puja, that got under way on Tuesday, are facing a tough time because of lack of raw materials and challenges posed by the steady rise of plastic alternatives.

Makers of sup and pasi (basket and tray) in Guwahati, Dhubri and Doomdooma said rise in prices of raw materials and availability of low-cost plastic replacements have affected their livelihood in the past two years.

A bamboo basket costs Rs 100 in Guwahati compared to Rs 70 last year, while it costs Rs 150 in Doomdooma in Tinsukia, up from Rs 90 last year. A pasi sells for Rs 50 in Guwahati while it costs Rs 120 in Doomdooma, up by Rs 20 and Rs 60 last year respectively.

"The number of bamboo basket weavers has come down from 150 to100 in the past few years, given the steep rise in prices of bamboo and easy availability of plastic alternatives," Prabhudev Basfar, of Pandu Harijan Colony in Guwahati, said.

Though the four-day puja was initially only celebrated by people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, local communities have also started participating in the rituals since the past decade.

Basfar said every year he makes around 500 sups during Chhath puja. Last year, he sold one for Rs 30 but this year for Rs 50 each.

Pranab Kalita, a retailer from Uzan Bazar in Guwahati, said plastic alternatives are brought from Calcutta and Delhi which has led to business going south since 2016. "Earlier, I used to sell around 1,000 sups, but now it has come down to around 700. It is because of the rise in sale of plastic products which is hampering local makers," Kalita said.

Kalpana Basfore of Garikhana road in Dhubri, who along with her family members have been weaving baskets for generations to cater to Chhath puja demand, said life has been a struggle.

Binu Basfore, another basket weaver, said increase in bamboo prices, hard labour and low productivity have hit life. "We find it very tough to earn even Rs 100 a day. Our family is engaged in weaving baskets for Chhath puja from dawn to dusk," she said.

Surendra Prasad, a basket-maker in Doomdooma, said two bamboos are requred to make a sup and pasi and that rising input costs have made the trade unviable.

Bamboo prices have gone up three-fold since 2014, from Rs 50 to Rs 150 each. "We want to do some other business but have no money," basket maker Vinod Prasad said.

"A plastic basket costs Rs 50 compared to Rs 250 to Rs 300 for a bamboo one. A sup costs Rs 200 in Doomdooma," he said, adding that the number of devotees has risen but their fortunes have plummeted.