Bhubaneswar: Sweet makers in Odisha’s famous Pahala sweet market are facing mounting pressure as the availability of chhena has declined and the cost of several essential ingredients has increased ahead of Rakhi Purnima.
Chhena is reportedly being sold for more than Rs 250 per kilogram wherever it is available, adding to the production costs of sweets. At the same time, prices of sugar, cardamom and firewood have also increased, putting further pressure on sweet shop owners.
Cardamom, Firewood Prices Rise
Among the ingredients seeing a significant price increase is cardamom, whose price has reportedly climbed by Rs 600 per kilogram to around Rs 2,500 per kilogram.
Firewood, which is used by several traditional sweet-making establishments, has also become more expensive, with prices increasing by around Rs 400 per quintal.
With multiple input costs rising simultaneously, sweet manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their existing profit margins.
Pahala Vendors Assure Customers About Chhena Quality
Pahala is widely known for its traditional sweets, and local vendors have sought to reassure customers about the quality of the chhena being used in their products.
One sweet shop owner said vendors in Pahala use unadulterated chhena and regularly monitor its quality. He added that the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) periodically collects samples from shops for testing.
“Entire Odisha is in shock given the amount of adulterated paneer found. Chhena was also found to be adulterated at some locations. However, at Pahala, all vendors sell and make sweets from unadulterated chhena,” the vendor said.
He added that shopkeepers also have testing chemicals available to check the purity of chhena before using it in sweets.
Concerns Over Chhena Adulteration
The issue of adulterated dairy products has raised concerns among consumers and sweet manufacturers across Odisha.
The Pahala vendor claimed that some adulterators may be using ingredients such as maida and palm oil to increase the quantity of chhena, although he said the exact methods being used were not known to them.
The growing scrutiny has also made quality testing increasingly important for sweet shops, particularly during periods when demand rises sharply.
Sweet Prices Remain Unchanged Ahead of Rakhi
Despite the increase in raw material costs, sweet prices in Pahala have not been increased for the time being.
Another vendor said that maintaining the existing prices has affected their margins and that several shop owners are currently operating at a loss.
“The prices of the sweets are still the same for the time being. However, we are doing business at a loss. We will not increase the prices of the sweets until Rakhi Purnima,” the vendor said.
According to the vendor, the local sweet shop association is expected to meet after Rakhi Purnima to review the situation and decide whether prices need to be revised.
Rising Costs Could Affect Sweet Prices
For now, customers purchasing sweets from Pahala are likely to see existing prices continue through the Rakhi period. However, continued increases in chhena and other ingredients could force sweet manufacturers to reconsider their pricing in the coming days.
With chhena availability becoming a concern and production costs continuing to rise, Pahala’s sweet makers are now looking for ways to maintain quality while managing their increasing expenses.
