With Chhath Puja around the corner, Hazaribagh has set up a market at Hindu School where fruits and other festival offerings are sold at cost price, ensuring that devotees can observe the rituals without high expenses.
The market is organized by the Shri Surya Shashthi Chhath Puja Fruit Distribution Committee and managed entirely by community volunteers, including teachers, lawyers, journalists, and social workers. No commercial vendors participate. Over the past month, the committee collected contributions from local residents to procure fruits and essentials worth around ₹60 lakh. Once sold, the money is returned to contributors, making the system self-sustaining.
The initiative addresses a common challenge during Chhath Puja. Every year, fruit prices rise sharply due to high demand, and families face financial pressure. By providing offerings at cost price, the market ensures that financial constraints do not prevent anyone from participating in the festival. This year, amid rising inflation, the market has become especially important for families across the district.
Farmers are given stalls free of charge to sell produce directly to customers, helping them reach more buyers without paying fees. Shoppers benefit from access to fresh fruits and items like refined ghee at cost price. The market has become a space where culture, faith, and social support converge.
“Every year, the festival brings excitement and pressure,” said a committee member. “Our aim is to make Chhath affordable and accessible for everyone. This is not a business; it is a service to society.”
The model demonstrates how community-led initiatives can operate transparently and fairly. Hazaribagh’s youth participating in the market gain experience in civic engagement, leadership, and volunteer work.
Markets have also been set up in multiple urban and rural locations to ensure residents in smaller villages have access to offerings at fair prices. As devotees flock to these markets, the festival economy remains balanced while profiteering is prevented.
Hazaribagh’s cost-price Chhath market at Hindu School is emerging as a model that combines faith with social responsibility, showing how communities can uphold traditions while addressing practical challenges.
