Prayagraj: As the date of temple consecration in Ayodhya inches closer, the demand for silver idols and coins of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman and Ram Darbar along with the Ram temple has gone up manifold in jewellery markets.
“The demand has shot up in the city jewellery market to the extent that we have booked orders from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Meerut, Kanpur and Chennai. We have already sold items worth over Rs 5 crore,” said Dinesh Singh, president of Allahabad Jewellers Association.
The silver coins are available in 10, 20 and 50 grams.
Jewellers have stocked silver idols of Ram amounting from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. Similarly, silver made Ayodhya temple is available in the range from Rs 2,500 to Rs 2 lakh. However, many jewellery shops in chowk and adjoining areas are running out of stock of silver coins and they have ordered the same from neighbouring Kanpur and Meerut regions.
Jewellers expect the silver idol and coins markets in the state will cross Rs 100 crore business this year.
Meanwhile, sale of Shri Ram and Hanuman flags has also spiked. Traders dealing in ‘patakas’ (pennant) have received bulk orders from Hindu organisations, residential colonies, apartments and individuals.
A trader, Rajesh said: “There is a sudden surge in the demand of saffron coloured Ram printed flags and red coloured Shri Hanuman pataka (flag) among devotees. We have already received 2.5 lakh flag orders in the past one month and hope to supply around 3 lakh more in Sangam city and adjoining districts till January 22.”
