Inflation affects Varanasi devotees

VARANASI - Devotees in Varanasi are poignant, as prices of religious offerings have increased manifold due to inflation. he surge in the price of sugar has affected shopkeepers who sell sweets near temples.

The shopkeepers are having a tough time, as inflation has affected their profits to a great extent. There has been a decline in the number of customers and even those who turn up, buy Prasad (holy offering), just for the sake of it.

Sagar Singh, a shopkeeper said, “The situation is a little worse. The income we had earlier is no more possible; the price of sugar has increased from Rs 30 to Rs 50. The kind of business we had earlier has decreased, the customer who bought 250gms of sweet now buy 100gms, and the ones who bought 1 kg now buy 500gms.”

On the other hand, the customers too are not happy as they buy fewer sweets as offerings. The increased prices have dented the common man’s budget.

Heeralal Kothari, a devotee said, “The inflation has brought a lot of difference. We have to decrease the quantity of offerings we wish to offer. We have to do adjustment, as we are left with no other option.” (ANI)