The KRS is not full this year. The Cauvery row is still lurking. But come Deepavali, all these recede to the background.
Mysore like other places in the State is all ready to welcome the festival of lights. In the light of the festival, including JK Grounds, cracker stalls have been set up in many other open grounds. They are all waiting for the customers. The sales have begun from Saturday. The crackers sales will be on for almost next ten days.
In JK Grounds there are 19 stall and the other stalls are put up near Ballal Circle, Vivekananda Circle, Andolana Circle, Kuvempunagar, Mathrumandali Circle and Hebbal Industrial area.
When compared to last year the price of crackers have gone up by nearly 15 per cent. As there was fire in a godown in Shivakashi in the month of September, the crackers have been destroyed. Also because there has been a crackdown on many illegal manufacturers, the production of crackers has suffered and the demand has gone up. Hence the prices have also shot up.
“A box containing 20 varieties of crackers cost Rs 200, 25 varieties container costs Rs 250 and 30 varieties cost Rs 350. Depending on the companies that manufacture them, the prices vary. Even if the prices are a bit expensive, the customers do not hesitate to purchase,” said Mysore Cracker Traders Association vice president Sharat.
“We sell crackers from companies like Standard, Chowdambika, Jyothi, Saraswathi and Infire works. The hot selling items are flowerpots, sursurbatthis, ground chakkar, fanciful crackers. More than the gift boxes people like to buy individually,” said a cracker stall owner Surigowda.
Rs 5 lakh rent
In JK Ground there are 19 stalls and all these stalls put together pay a rent of Rs five lakh to Mysore Medical College authorities. Even though we are paying more rent, the only consolation is, the rent goes towards the cost of medicines of poor patients,” said the stall owners.
