Milk suppliers gear up for Kojagiri flow

MILK dairies will produce milk in abundance and double their milk supply to the city for a special night of awakening.
Kojagiri, the festival observed on the night of the full moon in the month of Ashwin, according to the Hindu calendar, is that special day when milk is of utmost importance and served as prasad. According to tradition it is believed that goddess Laxmi moves about from place to place asking the question Kojagrati?; meaning ‘Who is awake?’.She blesses those she finds awake.
Hence, most people stay awake through out the night, playing various games of amusement in honour of the goddess. Thickened masala milk is the speciality in every house. Gokul Milk suppliers hope to move almost double the amount they sell daily.
Says Vijay Dhere, “There is an increase in the sale of milk by almost 40,000 litres. Most of the people plan milk parties throughout the night and milk is boiled till thickened, hence, people buy atleast three times more than their usual requirement.�
Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale agrees that there is an increase in the sale of milk. On an average, Chitale Milk sells about one lakh litres daily and on Kojagiri, they sell one lakh litres extra. Rajabhau Chitale states that although there is a huge demand for milk, they might not be able to supply it.
“Due to the drought this year, milk supply has lessened, hence, we might not be able to meet the demand,� he adds. According to Dairy Development Sources, Pune needs five lakh litres approximately daily, but on Kojagiri it increases by 30 per cent. While Sane Dairy’s Anant Sane adds, “We also have the specially concentrated masala milk ready at the price of Rs 35 per litre.�