The sale of traditional delicacies during the holy month of Ramazan and the festival of Id has decreased by more than 70 per cent this year due to the state-wide lockdown induced by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Factors like limited time for shops to remain open, an increased sense of hygiene due to the pandemic and decrease in the purchasing power of the common people have also contributed to the decrease in sales.

Mehboob Alam, owner of one of the oldest lachha hotspot of Dhanbad said, “The market is very pathetic as decreased purchasing capacity of people due to pandemic and lockdown is the main reason for the decrease in laccha sales as those who used to purchase two to three kilos are now ordering half a kilo or less.”

“The sales of lachha used to surge to over 100 kg every year during Ramazan, except this year and also 2020,” said Alam.

“This year the maximum sale till today is around 30 kg only,” he said.

Tanveer Alam, seller of traditional delicacies including lachha, sheermal (dough prepared from flour, ghee, sour, salt and saffron) and bakarkhani (tandoori bread from Mughlai cuisine) said, “The decline in sales can be ascertained from the fact that we used to sell around 1000 piece of sheermal per day before 2020 but this year we have not sold more than 200 pieces a day till now.” Sheermal varieties are priced at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per piece.

“Similar with Bakarkhani sales, priced at the range of Rs 50 to Rs 90. Instead of 50 pieces sold per day from our outlet during Ramazan we are selling only around 20 pieces per day this year,” said Alam.

Wasseypur based social activist Hazi Zamir Arif, said, “Presently when Covid is at its peak the prime concern for everyone is to somehow save their life and all are other things have acquired secondary status so the sale of almost every product including Ramazan and Eid delicacies have taken a backseat.”