Shops selling items for last rites rake in moolah

PRAYAGRAJ: With increasing number of people dying due to Covid, the demand for items used for rituals for the departed souls have increased. And with the demand, traders have also increased the rates of such articles so much so that the increased cost is also causing scuffles between kin of deceased persons and traders.

There are around a dozen shops in Chowk area where items for such rituals are sold.

In fact, many traders who earlier used to sell items used for marriage rituals have also started selling shrouds etc.

“While earlier we had one or two customers every day, now more than 10 persons on an average arrive on a daily basis,” said Annu, who sells articles such as Kala Til, incense sticks, chandan wood, kapoor, kalai nara, shrouds and bamboo ‘titti’ used for taking bodies to cremation ghats.“I take Rs 4,000 for all items used in performing last rites and from the poor people I charge even less than usual amount. However, many traders in the area are charging hefty amount from the kin of deceased persons leading to scuffles,” Annu admitted.

Similar is the situation for articles used in burial of bodies of members of Muslim community.