Sales of ready-made sesame laddu have dropped dramatically this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. Consumers are not purchasing laddu from the markets. There is dissatisfaction among the vendors as there is not enough customer base even during the festival of Makar Sankranti, which is celebrated on January 14. People celebrate the occasion with sweets made of jaggery and sesame as well as rice, along with sumptuous meals and also fly kites.
This year also these vendors carried sesame laddu, sugar beans and other items similar to previous years. But this year's Sankrant is making them feel bitter as they are not getting the desired customer base.
As per the vendors, this year, sales of Sesame laddu (Til ka laddu), which are specially made for Sankranti have declined due to lack of customers. Due to the virus outbreak, people are scared to buy eatables from the street vendors as they feel it may not be safe. Hence, they prefer making it at home. Moreover, the ban on rail travel has hit sales, said, vendors.
“We start putting up carts and stalls in the markets a few days before Makar Sankranti. Every year, there is a rush at the market near Dadar station. However, this year, not even four or five kilos of laddu are sold in a day, expressed a vendor.”
This festival of Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated by Indians. The day is dedicated to the Sun God and is also known by different names such as Makara Sankranti or Maghi. The day marks the entry of the sun into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn). It also signals the end of winters and the onset of spring. As per the Hindu calendar, Makar Sankranti falls on the first day of the month of Magha.