In the face of Chinese goods, chakis add sanctity to festivity

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 10: Guwahati is a veritable paradise on earth, thanks to Chinese electrical goods that have illumited the city in diverse hues. Locally available and traditiol earthenware, plantains and sacred herbs and leaves do add sanctity to the mosaic, but not without burning big holes in the pockets of those who celebrate the occasion.

Chinese LED garlands are sold at Rs 150-200 apiece, gel lights are sold at Rs 5-60 apiece, genda garland at Rs 300-500, lotus at Rs 100-150 apiece, water spray at Rs 500-600 apiece, rope light at Rs 750-1,000, dipak at Rs 150-200, dia at Rs 100-500, tree at Rs 400-600, flower net at Rs 60-80, gel net at Rs 60-80, rocket LED at Rs 80-250, crystal at Rs 150-150, lesser at Rs 500-700 and LED strip at Rs 200-800.

The Sentinel reported earlier that Chinese electrical goods worth around Rs 3 crore have entered the State on the eve of Diwali. If the goods have been smuggled into the State, the government might have a revenue loss. Many shopkeepers are reluctant to disclose the sources of procurement of Chinese goods, and this says that the goods might have been smuggled into the State. However, the people are happy to get Chinese goods at cheaper rates that give this Diwali a different look.

In the face off between modernity and tradition, plantain, basil leaves, dhubari herb, clusters of ripe paddy, earthenware etc., also make their presence largely felt and continue to add a sacred sheen to the decorations that would have bore no meaning in the absence of tradition. If Chinese electrical goods have glowed the few skycrapers in the city and other households, our traditiol plantain planted artificially on the ground in lines with earthen lamps and flowers placed between them added sanctity to the festivity.

The whole lot of earthenware from Dhupdhora, Goalpara and Gauripur in Assam and the multi-coloured ones from Kolkata have been successful in adding sanctity to the festivity. The traditiol Assamese small earthen lamps are sold at the rate of Rs 120 per 100 pieces, the medium sized ones at Rs 150-180 per 100 pieces, and the bigger ones at Rs 280-300 per 100 pieces, while the multi-coloured ones from Kolkata are sold at Rs 15-400 apiece.

The items that are essential for the Kali Puja are also sold at much higher prices. While a small cluster of ripe paddy is sold at Rs 10-20, a small peduncle of mango containing a few leaves and the bud is sold at Rs 5-10, coconut for ghots is sold at Rs 30-50 apiece, coconut to be served as prasad is sold at Rs 40, floral garland at Rs 20-50 apiece, a small cluster of dhubari herbs at Rs 10, a few of basil leaves as a bunch at Rs 10, a dozen of champa ba at Rs 35, a dozen of malbhok ba at Rs 80-150 and a bunch of firewood for the yaj is sold at Rs 50.

    Meanwhile, adulterated mustard oil has also flooded the city market for being used as fuel for chakis. Each litre of such mustard oil is sold at Rs 122-140.