Amidst the fervour of the ongoing Navratri festival, a cherished tradition of sowing grains in bamboo baskets faces a significant challenge from the influx of Chinese-made baskets. The market intrusion of these vibrantly designed and competitively priced Chinese baskets has led to a notable decline in demand for indigenous bamboo baskets, causing concern among local artisans and traders.

For generations, sowing grains in bamboo baskets has been a cherished tradition during Navratri. However, the introduction of colourful and affordable Chinese baskets has caused a substantial drop, estimated at 25 to 30 percent, in the demand for Indian bamboo baskets.

Chinese baskets, known for their captivating designs, are capturing consumer attention due to their affordability when compared to domestically crafted bamboo baskets. This shift in consumer preference poses a challenge for local basket weavers who meticulously handcraft these bamboo baskets, sourcing bamboo from Parel, Thane, and Raigad.

A single bamboo, priced between Rs. 100 to Rs. 150, yields an average of 8 to 10 medium-sized baskets, each requiring the skilled labour of artisans and taking two to three hours to complete. This influences the pricing of these hand woven pieces.

Despite their cultural significance and long-standing appeal, bamboo baskets are now available in the market for prices ranging from Rs. 30 to Rs. 200, as artisans and traders grapple with the surge in demand for Chinese-made alternatives, a trend increasingly noticeable, particularly around the time of the Navratri festival.