Pune: With Navratri festivities starting today (October 3), the markets are bustling with shoppers purchasing essential items for Ghatsthapana, the traditional start of the festival.

Popular marketplaces such as Market Yard, Mahatma Phule Mandai, and various suburban shopping hubs have become the center of activity as customers rushed to buy ritual supplies.

Navratri is celebrated with devotion across homes, where families install a ceremonial pot (Ghat) symbolizing the presence of the Goddess.

For this sacred installation, several items are required, including clay, baskets, coconuts, sacred threads, chunri (a traditional scarf), and five types of fruits, among others.

Decorative elements like green bangles, garlands, and lotus flowers are also in high demand as families prepare their homes for the festive season.

The market this year has seen a price rise in key items such as clay, baskets, and ceremonial pots, with costs increasing by ₹20 compared to last year.

Clay is now being sold at ₹80 per kilogram, while baskets and pots are priced at ₹70 each. The fruit platters needed for offerings are available at ₹50, and other essential items like chunri and coconuts are being sold at ₹40 and ₹30 respectively.

Vendors have reported strong demand for festival supplies. Asha Kanade, a vendor specializing in ceremonial items, noted that “This year, there has been an increased demand for Navratri supplies, and we’ve seen a slight price increase across several categories.”

The majority of the items, such as mango leaves, clay, and baskets, have been sourced from different regions of Pune district, while other ceremonial goods are readily available in city shops.

Prices of Festival Items:

• Clay: ₹80 per kg

• Basket: ₹70

• Pot: ₹70

• Fruit platter: ₹50

• Chunri: ₹40

• Coconut: ₹30

• Packet of grains: ₹20

• Sacred thread: ₹15