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Bhai Phonta Marks A Day of Rituals and Record Festive Buying Across West Bengal

State officials dispatched price-monitoring teams following a surge in festive buying for meats and sweets.

Overview

  • Sisters observed the ritual by applying phonta or tika and offering prayers for their brothers’ long life, with many fasting until the ceremony.
  • Markets saw heavy queues at fish, mutton and chicken stalls, and shoppers reported same-day price jumps of about 15–20 percent.
  • Kolkata’s retail and wholesale hubs drew visits from Special Task Force teams instructed to check essential commodity prices.
  • Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted a 25‑second self-composed greeting song, while ministers, MPs and Tollywood figures joined public ceremonies.
  • Sweet shops expanded ranges with traditional, fusion and low-sugar items, with some outlets offering 40–100+ varieties, and restaurants projected strong turnout through the weekend.