Tilkut, dahi-chura and kites set tone for Makar Sankranti in city | Patna News
Patna: The city is alive with the unmistakable excitement of Makar Sankranti, to be celebrated on Jan 14, as markets across the state capital buzz with festive energy.From the aroma of freshly prepared tilkut, til, sesame and lai laddoos, and chikki wafting through narrow lanes to colourful kites fluttering above crowded stalls, the city is preparing to celebrate the festival in its signature style. Dairy counters and sweet shops remain at the centre of the preparations.This year, the Patna Dairy Project has geared up for exceptionally high demand, targeting sales of around 36 lakh litres of milk and 11 lakh kg of curd on the day. To meet the surge, extensive logistics have been arranged, including flying squads to monitor supply in Patna, Vaishali, Saran and Nalanda districts. Officials said special emphasis has been placed on uninterrupted availability of milk, curd, paneer and tilkut, assuring consumers that no shortages will occur.The iconic combination of dahi-chura continues to remain the soul of the festival. Bhagalpur’s famous Katarni chura is selling fast in local markets, priced between Rs 70 and Rs 80 per kg for regular varieties, while premium basmati chura is available at Rs 140 to Rs 180. Ordinary flattened rice is selling for Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg, while gud (jaggery) is priced between Rs 80 and Rs 100.Roshan Gupta, a vendor at Raja Bazaar, said demand has surged noticeably compared to previous years, with people stocking up not only for household use but also to share with relatives and friends. “Katarni chura, gud khasta gajak and gud tilkut are more in demand,” he said.Sweet shops are equally crowded, particularly those selling tilkut in its many varieties — plain tilkut priced between Rs 350 and Rs 450 per kg, gud-mixed tilkut at Rs 450 to Rs 600, dry-fruit tilkut at Rs 700 to Rs 900, and sugar-coated varieties ranging from Rs 850 to Rs 1,100 per kg.Jaya Madhan, sales (online) manager at a confectionery shop near Gandhi Maidan, said the outlet introduced several new products this year. “Til patti, til bugga, gud kachcha gola, gud dry-fruits gajak, chocolate gajak tilkut, gud biscuits and sandesh, among others, are flying off the shelves. We also have a Makar Sankranti gift hamper curated with tilkut, gajak and other sweets. It starts from Rs 360. Customers can also select sweets of their choice and the price is calculated accordingly,” she told this newspaper.Shopkeepers in Kankarbagh, Boring Road, Rajendra Nagar, Dak Bungalow, Mithapur and other busy pockets said the fragrance of roasted sesame and jaggery is drawing large crowds.Kite-flying, another cherished part of the festival, has also gained momentum. Markets are flooded with paper and durable plastic kites featuring cartoon characters, animal shapes, animated themes and abstract patterns. Santosh Kumar, a kite seller at Kadamkuan, said the stock arrived from Gujarat, Kanpur and Bareilly. “Paper kites cost Rs 20 to Rs 40 per piece, while plastic ones range from Rs 50 to Rs 80 depending on size and design. Manja is priced between Rs 120 and Rs 250 per 1,000 metres. Larger or designer kites start from Rs 120 and go up to Rs 500 each,” he said.Another kite seller from Hajiganj in Patna City said he had sold over 100 kites within a week. “The craze for this traditional activity during the festival is still alive,” he said.Meanwhile, temples across the city are gearing up for devotees, with special arrangements in place for Ganga snan, daan and puja at major sites including Gandhi Ghat, Collectorate Ghat and prominent shrines across Patna.
