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Businessmen cash in on Bol Bom sentiment

CUTTACK: It is believed that different stakeholders make business worth nearly Rs. 20 crores in the month of ‘Shravan’ as more and more people are turning out to become Bol Bom devotees every year.

Businessmen dealing with essentials required for each devotee for an arduous trip are reaping it rich while different temple trusts are raking in the moolah.

Unfortunately, neither the government nor the local administration has any plans to mop up revenue from this thriving prospect.

Each devotee spends on an average Rs. 500 per an auspicious trip.

Now that more and more women and girls are participating in the ritual, the average spending is also picking up.

Gadagadia Ghat on the banks of the Mahanadi here is turning out to be the most sought-after location to start the journey carrying sacred water from here to different Shiva shrines. Every week, nearly five lakh devotees throng the ghat, say priests of the local temple.

Nearly 100 makeshift stalls have come up here during this month selling the essentials to the devotees.

“We have not thought of collecting any tax from the stall owners as yet. But, looking at the business prospects of the new trend, we could think of such measures in future as is being done during the Baliyatra,” says a staffer of the Cuttack sadar tehsil office.

A temporary food stall owner near the Gadagadia temple here claims to have made a profit of Rs. 50,000 by investing around Rs. 20,000 during the last two weeks. “For the past seven years, I am in this trade, and this time I have already invested Rs. 50,000,” says another food stall owner, who has erected a stall to feed at least 100 devotees at a time. Basant Mohanty has put up a puja stall selling prasad, coconuts, brass and earthen pots worth over Rs. 20,000 and claims to have sold them for Rs. 30,000 at the end of three fruitful weeks with a net profit of Rs. 10,000.

However, government is silent to such a cult.

“If not to curtail the same, the government should at least give its stamp of approval by making an effort to generate some revenue.

It can also think in business terms by providing some facilities to the devotees,” feel some devotees.

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