Shravan demand sends pulse prices soaring

NEW DELHI: Prices of pulses, which have skyrocketed to Rs 90 a kg in the national Capital are not expected to come down till August-end as the demand has gone up in the auspicious shravan month, traders said.

Pulses have been becoming expensive in the last 3-4 months in the city. However, the prices have shot up in this month because most people are observing shravan and are eating lentils instead of meat, Delhi Grain Merchant Association general secretary Vicky Gupta told reporters.

High vegetable prices have worsened the situation as people tend to turn to pulses when this happens due to which prices have skyrocketed further, he said. Prices of pulses in north India, especially in Delhi, are ruling significantly high due to a rise in demand following a switch to a vegetarian diet in the month of shravan, a local trader said.

The month began in north India on July 8 and would end on August 5, according to the Hindu calendar whereas in the southern states like Andhra Pradesh it starts on July 23 and ends on August 20. During the month most Hindus abstain from meat and fish.

A trader said Delhi gets supply of about 2,000 tonnes of pulses every day from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Currently prices of pulses are ruling high in the range of Rs 40-90 a kg on the retail counters in the national Capital.