Chhath Puja brings a slice of Bihar in Hyderabad

Hyderabad's Chhath Puja landscape has seen an influx of people from Bihar, leading to an increased demand for sugarcane leaves, pineapples, and coconuts. Vendors strategically cater to the festive season, with some stocking up to 70 pineapples and two quintals of sugarcane. The Bihari population in Hyderabad has seen a positive shift, with bureaucrats playing a key role in organising the puja on a larger scale.

Pop up markets selling sugarcane leaves, pineapples, and coconuts have become part of Hyderabad’s Chhath Puja landscape as there is an increasing influx of people from Bihar in the city. The celebration witnesses a surge in demand for these fruits.

The four-day Chhath Puja involves devotees tying together five to seven sugarcane stalks, creating a mandap (canopy) within their homes. Beneath these mandaps, 10 to 12 earthen lamps are lit as part of the sacred observance. Notably, the sugarcane used for this ritual differs from the common varieties, as it includes leaves.

While Hyderabad boasts numerous fruit and vegetable hotspots, only select vendors strategically cater to the Chhath Puja demands, attracting a dedicated customer base during the festive season.

Mohammad Rafiq, a fruit vendor at Bharat Nagar bazaar, shared his experience of entering the sugarcane market 15 years ago. Observing the rush of people from Bihar seeking sugarcane during Chhath Puja, he began selling it during the festive season and his customer base has been progressively growing over the years.

This year, Rafiq has secured two quintals of sugarcane exclusively for Chhath Puja and hopes to sell them all by Sunday evening. “I obtained it at a cost of approximately ₹800 to ₹900 per quintal and intend to sell the sugarcane at ₹40-50 per piece,” he stated.

At Sanathnagar Rythu Bazaar, a fruit vendor has two carts piled high with pineapples. Moinuddin, the cart vendor, strategically displayed 70 pineapples across two stalls in anticipation of heightened demand during Chhath Puja. He noted the significant presence of people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in the neighbourhood, receiving inquiries about required fruits a week before the festival and stocking up accordingly.

The Bihari population in Hyderabad acknowledged the positive shift, with Madhavendra Mishra of Bihar Association stating: “In my 20 years of living in Hyderabad, I can say that the things which were not available 10 years ago are now easily available in the market.”