Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: With Rakhi Purnima just around the corner, preparations for the festival have begun in full swing. Guests have started arriving at homes, and families are getting ready to welcome brothers and sisters with traditional celebrations, gifts and sweets. However, this festive cheer may come with an added burden on household budgets, as sweet prices are likely to rise by ₹5 to ₹10 per piece.

Sweet sellers say the rising prices of sugar and chhena, coupled with a shortage of quality chhena, are pushing up production costs. Sugar prices have been steadily increasing over the past month and have reached around ₹70 per kg. Meanwhile, the price of chhena has increased from ₹215 to ₹235 per kg. Firewood used by traditional sweet makers has also become costlier, with prices reaching around ₹1,500 per quintal.

According to Ashok Lenka, president of the Pahala Sweet Traders’ Association, the increase in raw material costs is making it difficult for sweet makers to maintain the existing prices. The situation has been further affected by action against adulterated chhena and paneer in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur. Following the inspections, the supply of chhena to several sweet shops has reportedly declined, creating a shortage in the market.

At present, Chhenapoda is priced at around ₹350 per kg, Chhenagaja at ₹250 per kg, Chhenajhilli at ₹250 for 15 pieces, while Rasgulla costs around ₹250 per kg or ₹7–₹10 per piece. Traders say that producing sweets at these prices has become increasingly difficult due to the higher cost of ingredients.

The likely increase in sweet prices comes at a time when demand is expected to surge. Rakhi Purnima is one of the busiest occasions for sweet shops, with families purchasing sweets not only for Rakhi celebrations but also for visiting relatives and welcoming guests arriving at home.

“I usually buy sweets for my brother, relatives and guests during Rakhi. If prices go up, I may have to reduce the quantity,” said a customer at a sweet shop in Bhubaneswar.

Another customer said, “Rakhi is incomplete without sweets. We will buy them anyway, but the increase in price will definitely affect our budget.”

With the festive season beginning with Rakhi Purnima and several other festivals following soon after, sweet shops are expected to witness heavy footfall. Customers, meanwhile, are keeping a close watch on prices.

Sweet traders have indicated that sweets will continue to be sold at the existing prices until Rakhi Purnima. A meeting of sweet traders will be held to discuss the extent of the proposed price hike, following which a final decision will be taken.

For now, the focus remains on Rakhi Purnima, when homes will fill with the warmth of sibling celebrations, guests and festive sweets. But with input costs rising, the traditional box of sweets may soon become a little more expensive.