Tanahun, November 9:

Activities have picked up in the market today when just two days are to go for Tihar festival in Damauli as the shoppers have crammed for marketing of spices and tika.

The number of shoppers for buying fruits, mustard oil, candles, tika and spices has suddenly shot up, say the businessmen. Ram Sharan Prasad, an Indian national from India’s Motihari, who has been engaged in tika sales in Damauli for the past three years, said his business has seen dramatic increase from today. His sales was from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 daily in this festival, he added.

Om Prakash Gupta, another tika seller from Rupandehi but involved in this business in Damauli since the past seven years said he sold packets of tika worth Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 15 and Rs 20. Most of the traders dealing in tika here are from India. According to a report, in Damauli alone, four dozen tika shops are in business.

In Damauli, shortage of ghee has hit the consumers.

Om Shopping Center said it sold at least 100 kgs of ghee in the past in this festival but this year there is a shortage. Owner of the center Brish Raj Shrestha said supply of ghee could not meet demand. He also said that a tin can of ghee of Safal brand manufactured in Pokhara based industrial zone cost Rs 260, while a packet was priced at Rs 255.