By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: As Bihar immerses itself in the devotional spirit of Chhath Puja, Chhath songs echo across the state, and markets bustle with festival preparations. This year, Patna’s malls have joined in, offering dedicated counters for Chhath Puja essentials, providing a one-stop shop for worshippers.
In a nod to tradition, staff at these counters stand barefoot, observing rituals of purity. Malls now stock all Chhath necessities, from the daura and soop to a wide variety of fruits, offering shoppers a convenient alternative to crowded local markets. Special counters ensure that items are easily accessible and affordably priced, with fixed rates that many shoppers find more economical than open-market prices.
Customer Surendra Nath Rai praised the convenience of finding all essentials under one roof, noting that mall prices are lower and more stable than market prices. Fruits are attractively priced, with pineapples at ₹35 each, a branch of bananas at ₹489, apples at ₹119 per kilo, and custard apples at ₹135 per kilo. The daura and soop, key Chhath items, are also readily available at ₹160 and ₹50, respectively.
Another shopper, Deepu Kumar, shared that he was pleased with the quality and variety of items offered, finding everything his mother needed for Chhath Puja at prices lower than the local market. Malls have ensured that these items are made available with utmost purity and cleanliness.
Mall representatives highlighted their efforts to cater to traditional needs, with dedicated counters set up especially for Chhath. “Chhath is a cherished festival for us in Bihar. To honour this, we’ve created special arrangements for cleanliness and purity at the counters, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” a spokesperson shared, noting that even Vratis (devotees observing Chhath) are choosing to shop at these counters.
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