Bahubali and Dhurandhar goats steal show this Bakrid amid price surge in Ranchi

Dhrubajyoti Malakar & Shikha Yadav | TNNRanchi: With Bakrid scheduled on Thursday, goats with eye-catching names like Bahubali and Dhurandhar dominated livestock markets in the city since Wednesday morning, attention from Muslim buyers eager to celebrate the festival.Traders said that such uniquely named and well-built goats are gaining popularity among customers, not just for their size but also for their unique names. However, the festive enthusiasm got a mixed response from the buyers due to a significant rise in goat prices this year than the previous years.According to sellers, the cost of goats has surged by nearly 40% compared to last year, largely due to an increase in fuel prices, which has pushed up transportation and maintenance costs.“As a result, Bahubali weighing around 75 kg are now being sold at prices ranging between Rs 70,000 and Rs 75,000. In contrast, similar goats were priced between Rs 45,000 and Rs 50,000 during Bakrid last year. Similarly Dhurandhar 2 weighing around 50 kg was sold at Rs 30,000-35,000, but we are selling it at Rs 50,000 this year. We are getting a mixed response from customers,” Shakil Khan, a goat seller at Karbala Chowk said.Buyers visiting the markets admitted that the steep hike has made purchases more expensive and a little inconvenient for them. “Due to the increased price, it was little difficult to purchase goats. But we have to follow Eid rituals anyway. So I along with two neighbours bought a Bahubali at Rs 70, 000,” said a buyer Amjad Khan.Meanwhile, the recent hike in fuel prices, has begun dampened the festive fervour in the city this year, with people cutting down on their travel plans on Eid. For many families, Eid usually means visiting relatives across the city and nearby districts, shopping trips to busy markets, and outings with children. This year, however, many say those plans are being reconsidered.“We had planned to visit my sister’s family in Hazaribagh after Eid prayers, but now we may cancel it. Fuel has become expensive and every extra trip feels costly. We are trying to keep spending limited,” said Mohammed Arif, a resident of Hindpiri.EOM