The festive spirit of Makar Sankranti is sweetening the air in Ranchi, with a noticeable surge in demand for the traditional winter delicacy, tilkut. As the harvest festival approaches, temporary stalls dedicated to this treat, made from jaggery or sugar, roasted sesame, and ghee, have sprung up along the city's busiest thoroughfares.
Festive Stalls and Traditional Craftsmanship
Key areas like Upper Bazaar, Main Road, and Chutia are now lined with vendors catering to the seasonal craving. To manage the high demand, many city traders have brought skilled tilkut makers from neighbouring Bihar. Others are relying on family recipes and craftsmanship passed down through generations, ensuring the authenticity of the product.
The market is not just about the classic round tilkut. Vendors are diversifying their offerings to suit evolving consumer preferences. Alongside the traditional versions, stalls now display an array of sesame-based confections including sesame laddoos, til chikki, til papdi, and even limited quantities of khoya-based tilkut.
Vendors Race Against Time, Prices Hold Steady
For sellers, this period is crucial for their annual earnings. Vinay Kumar, a vendor at Upper Bazar, explained that preparations often begin before dawn to meet the daily demand for fresh sweets, especially those intended for gifting during Sankranti. "This period decides our earnings for the year," he said.
Despite the rush, prices have remained largely stable this season. Sugar-based tilkut is selling for approximately Rs 300 to Rs 350 per kilogram. The jaggery variants, often considered superior in quality, are priced slightly higher, ranging from Rs 400 to Rs 500 per kg. Premium varieties incorporating khoya or dry fruits are available at select shops at elevated rates.
Customer Trust and Festive Rituals
The market's appeal extends beyond Ranchi, attracting buyers from nearby towns. Pritam Kumar, another seller, highlighted the trust factor, noting that customers enjoy watching the sweets being prepared on the spot, which brings them back annually.
For consumers, visiting these markets is an integral part of the Sankranti ritual. Ramesh Kumar, a buyer at Lalpur, stated his family prefers buying directly from the market for both consumption and religious ceremonies because they can see the tilkut being made fresh. Meanwhile, Sunita Devi from Morabadi shared her strategy of purchasing small quantities from different stalls to enjoy a variety of tastes before sharing with relatives.
The bustling tilkut markets of Ranchi, thus, stand as a vibrant testament to the city's festive traditions, blending time-honoured crafts with contemporary market dynamics as Makar Sankranti draws near.
