As the festive season approaches, the price of edible oil and snack materials has seen a significant increase, leading to a rise in the cost of prepared snacks by 5 to 10 percent. This surge in prices is especially concerning for women self-help groups and home-based snack makers who prioritize hygiene and quality in their products.

With Diwali the festival of lights just around the corner, traditional snacks like chivda, chakali, anarse, and shankarpale are in high demand. However, the recent hike in edible oil prices and transportation costs is putting financial pressure on families purchasing these festive treats.

Home-makers preparing for Diwali often make their own faral (snack items), but many choose to buy from local vendors such as Mahila Sahad and Sweet shops. The drastic rise in prices for essential goods over the past year has further inflated the cost of these festive snacks. Many working women, who prefer ready-made options to save time, find themselves struggling to balance convenience and rising prices.

In the Navi Mumbai area, a plethora of sweet shops cater to the increased demand for homemade snacks, which remains robust despite the price hikes. Vendors attribute the rising prices to increased costs for ingredients and transportation, which ultimately burden the average consumer's budget.

Notably, some vendors have adjusted their pricing strategies to ensure affordability. For example, items like karanji and anarse are now sold by the kilogram to provide customers with more flexible purchasing options. Despite the increase in prices, the demand for homemade snacks continues to rise as many consumers favour cleanliness and quality over mass-produced options.

Manisha Shinde, from Manaswi Homemade Foods in Sanpada, emphasized that the rising prices reflect the broader inflation affecting all goods. She noted that while demand for homemade snacks is increasing, vendors are making efforts to keep prices as affordable as possible for consumers.

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