The city of Hyderabad is bustling with activity as people prepare for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Popular market areas like Begum Bazar, Nagole, Dhoolpet, Monda Market, Kukatpally, and Hayathnagar are crowded with shoppers looking for Ganesh idols and decorations.
The Ganesh Navaratri festival begins on Wednesday, marking the start of nine days of devotion. Many areas already have Ganesh idols set up in pandals, as people welcome the deity into their homes and neighborhoods.
Prices for Ganesh idols range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Sellers are concerned about whether they will sell all their idols by the start of the festival. KK Mondal from Kolkata Murthy Sales noted that sales are slower this year, with many visitors still deciding on their purchases.
Despite being a Sunday, families and organizers were busy shopping for festival supplies. Near Deevandevdi, pandal organizers bought decorative cloth, priced from Rs 12 to Rs 250 per meter, along with tarpaulin covers and carpets.
Near the Sheran Hotel by Mozamjahi Market, buyers focused on decorative items like hangings and LED lights, with prices between Rs 50 and Rs 200. Street vendors were actively selling their goods.
The festival also boosts the sweets business. Laddu, a popular sweet during Ganesh Navratri, is often auctioned after poojas. Satyanarayan Mithai Bhandar, a sweet shop, crafted an 18 kg pot-shaped laddu upon a devotee’s request. The shop is ready to handle the rush of customers in the coming days.
