Coconut prices soar at Rajarhat during Durga festival

RAJARHAT, KURIGRAM, Oct 16: Amid the joy of Sharadiya Durga Puja, the extra cost of coconuts has added to the worries of worshippers and those involved with the puja mandaps. 

Coconut is needed in every aspect of the puja, from making naru, one of its key elements, to religious rituals. Yet ahead of the festival, its price in the market has risen to Tk 250 to Tk 300 per pair. In early September, a pair of coconuts sold for Tk 160 to Tk 180. Now buyers have to pay much more. At the same time last year, the price was Tk 190 to Tk 200 per pair. As a result, the cost of puja arrangements has increased, and many buyers are purchasing fewer coconuts than needed due to the pressure of higher prices.

According to sources concerned, each mandap needs an average of 80 to 100 coconuts or more. Besides this, many families also buy 10 to 50 coconuts for the puja. As a result, although demand has risen around the festival, ordinary buyers and members of puja celebration committees are in trouble due to the price increase.

Bhabesh Chandra Ray, 65, a resident of Nazimkhan area in Rajarhat of Kurigram, who came to buy coconuts, said that compared with last year, the price of coconuts is much higher this time. Although his family needed 20 coconuts, he bought only 10 due to the high price. The price was lower even two weeks ago. As coconut use increases during Durga Puja, traders have raised the price.

Farmer Rajani Mohanta, 65, of Baidyer Bazar area in Rajarhat Upazila alleged that not only coconuts but also the prices of other puja materials have increased. He said that although there is adequate supply in the market, goods are being sold at higher prices. This has increased the overall cost of the puja.

Traders say coconuts are being bought at higher prices in the wholesale market and transport costs have risen, which is why prices have gone up. Azizul Haque, a trader at Nazimkhan Haat, said they buy 100 coconuts for Tk 10,000 and sell them for up to Tk 14,000.

Bulu Mia, a trader at Rajarhat Bazar, said coconut production in their area is very low. Coconuts have to be brought from the southern region. 

This time transport costs have increased, and prices in the wholesale market are also higher. He said they make a profit of Tk 20 to Tk 25 per pair of coconuts. Sometimes there are rotten coconuts too. They have to buy at a high price and sell at a high price.

The extra cost of coconuts has also affected the puja budget of temples. 

Sarker Arun Jadu, General Secretary of the Upazila Central Durga Mandir, said that this year the cost of arrangements has increased a lot as the prices of coconuts and various other puja materials have gone up. Their temple needs 120 coconuts for puja every year. This time they had to buy at Tk 300 per pair, whereas last year the price was Tk 200.

He said that although the demand for coconuts for household use can be reduced somewhat, it is not possible for temple puja. They had to buy as much as was needed.

According to calculations, the temple spent Tk 18,000 to buy 120 coconuts this time. Last year, buying the same quantity of coconuts cost Tk 12,000. That means an extra Tk 6,000 was spent on buying coconuts alone in one year.

Swarna Kamal Mishra, priest of Sonabar Amtali Durga Mandap, said a specific quantity of coconuts must be used in Durga Puja. However much the price rises, there is no scope to compromise in observing religious customs. This year, each pandal has to spend extra just to buy coconuts.

Nitai Chandra Ray, President of the Rajarhat Upazila Puja Celebration Front, said coconut naru has special value in Durga Puja. Invited guests also look for naru. So even though the price is high, people are buying coconuts as much as they can afford. However, as the prices of other puja materials have increased alongside coconuts, temple committees are struggling to manage expenses.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanzila Tasnim said coconuts are bought and sold the most during Sharadiya Durga Puja. Because the main tradition of this puja is coconut naru. Everyone loves naru. So the price is a little higher than in other seasons. Even so, we are regularly monitoring the market. If any trader charges too high a price, legal action will be taken against him.