Long queues used to be seen outside farsan shops in cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot in Gujarat since early morning on Dussehra every year.
But this year, the corona pandemic has spoilt the festival season, with people staying away from festivities. They are avoiding eating at shops in public places and markets.
There were lines of people at many places in Ahmedabad and Surat to take fafda-jalebi. While in Rajkot, people were staying away from jalebi-ganthiya.
Maintaining social distancing, people were seen forming queues Fafda Jalebi since morning in Ahmedabad. According to the guidelines, packaged foods are to be sold, so fafda and cholafali are being given in packets.
Even amidst the Corona epidemic, long queues of customers have been seen at all the farsan shops in Surat city since early morning. The age-old tradition of Dussehra has continued unabated this year as well. However, traders are saying that this year there is a decline in customers as compared to last year.
According to shopkeepers, fafda-jalebi sales are estimated to be at Rs 4 crore this year, while last year it was Rs 6-7 crore. A Sweets trader told The Daily Guardian that on the day of Dussehra, people especially buy more jalebi-fafda. But in the Corona epidemic, we are sitting with the hope of a 50 percent household. The owner of Farsan Mart said that this year in Dussehra, 50% of people ate less outside and only had their food at home. The business has taken a hit.
During Dussehra, fafda jalebi worth Rs 5 to 6 crore was sold in Vadodara city every year. However, business worth even Rs 2 crore was difficult. Sales of fafda jalebi are lower this time than last year. So, traders seem to be losing Rs 3 to 4 crore.