Lucknow, 16 November (HS). The demand for Dalia has suddenly increased during the wedding season in Lucknow. Beautiful baskets are being purchased to carry Sagun fruits in marriage functions. While the fruit sellers are charging Rs 60 to Rs 30 from the customers while decorating the fruit bundles, the makers of the bundles are able to get the price equal to or a little more than the cost. While this is putting a burden on the customers, the dalia makers are also feeling cheated.
The tradition of taking fruits in a basket to carry Sagun from village to city is still going on. Following the tradition, we buy pulses in the market. Earlier Dalia used to be available for five rupees. After a few years, the price of a bundle of five rupees has become twenty-five rupees. The price of pulses at the rate of two kg, five kg, ten kg, twenty kg has been fixed at twenty five, fifty, sixty and hundred rupees.
Dalia trader Awadhesh, a resident of Mandi Mohalla, says that the Dalia which is brought for sale in the market after being decorated in colorful foils, is made from bamboo or plastic. Plastic baskets are made in factories while bamboo baskets are made by hands. Since there is no much increase in the price of foil, gota, wallpaper and mesh applied over the dalia, the price of dalia is fixed with minimum increase only.
He told that the work of making dalia, dauri and chapiya has been going on at his place for two generations. The new generation is learning the work of making and decorating pots in their house. If you have skill in your hands then there are people in the market who like the skill. Daliya is sold at many places in the city. The strength of the daliya from their place is guaranteed.
Dalia businessman Ajay said that there is a lot of demand for Gotedar Dalia during marriage functions. For this, porridge is made day and night at their place. The basket is decorated with decorative items available in the market. Putting net in the basket increases its sales. Due to the presence of a net, it becomes easier to tie the fruits kept in the basket.
He said that the women of his house earn some money from the work of making dalia. The difference that arises between the cost of making dalia and the sale. He gives half of that profit to the women of his house. Women get excited by this and make beautiful Dalia in their free time. The pulses are sold to the people from his shop.
The state government is encouraging the work of making pulses which comes under micro small scale industry. Loan facility is available from the bank to expand Dalia’s work. For this, every possible information is given from the District Industries Center and the District Magistrate’s office.
