AGARTALA: As households prepare to celebrate Manasa Puja (Nag Panchami) with traditional devotion, festival markets across Agartala are busy. Maharajganj Bazar, Lake Chowmuhani, and Battala draw heavy footfall.
Artisans and traders have set up stalls with a wide range of clay idols of Goddess Manasa. They also offer essential puja items, Jhapan offerings, and milk-and-banana prasad. Tripura24.in notes the festive fervor in Agartala markets. Local shoppers visit stalls for Manasa Puja preparations.
Foot traffic continues through the Puja period, supporting artisans and vendors delivering crafts and offerings. The markets showcase traditional devotion and local livelihoods, drawing visitors from nearby towns. Fresh produce and handicrafts add color to the celebrations. The festive mood boosts nearby businesses too.
However, both buyers and artisans report a noticeable increase in idol prices this year on Tripura24.in compared with previous seasons.
Key Market Factors & Trader Insights
- Rising Raw Material Costs: Local clay artisans (murtikars) highlight that steep price hikes in raw clay, straw, bamboo framing, transport fares, and synthetic paints have forced them to adjust idol prices upward to cover production expenses.
- Variety in Display: Stalls feature a wide array of options—ranging from small, budget-friendly miniature idols for household shrines to intricate, hand-painted traditional idols adorned with serpents for larger community pandals and family enclosures.
- High Demand for Daily Essentials: Alongside idols, markets are seeing surge pricing in seasonal fruits, milk, betel leaves, and traditional earthen pots (Manasa Ghat).
- Consumer Response: While buyers acknowledge the economic stretch, enthusiasm for worshiping Goddess Manasa for family well-being and protection remains unabated across local neighborhoods.
