Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Different areas of the city are dotted with vendors selling banana trees and earthen lamps on the occasion of Kali Puja. However, the vendors say that their business is not encouraging. The demand has not been high.
Vendors were seen doing business in Bamunimaidam, Ganeshguri and various other areas in Guwahati. While banana plants are sold at Rs 70 to 100 per pair in the Bamunimaidam area, at Ganeshguri the price for Banana plants were higher in the Ganeshguri area they are sold at Rs 100 to Rs 200 per pair.
The vendors say that they have brought the banana plants from different places, including Boko, Samata, Changsari, Biswanath Chariali, Bezera, Hajp, Bijay Nagar. A woman selling banana plants in Bamunimaidam said, “The market is not as brisk as last year. I’ve been selling banana plants for the last four years, and this year the market is not at all satisfactory. This is because we have to buy banana plants and spend money in their transportation. This apart, vendors selling banana plants have risen manifold. We’re selling banana plants at Rs. 70 to Rs 100 per pair.”
The business of the earthen lamp is no better either. The earthen lamps available in the market are locally produced in areas like Maligaon. Another shopkeeper, Kamalakanta Barman from Nalbari, said that people do not want to pay the right price.