Tansen. PALPA: The sale of Jhiniya is on the rise in Palpa bazaar as Tihar, the second biggest festival of Hindus, is approaching. On the occasion of Tihar, sisters give Jhiniya as a gift to their brothers. Due to which its demand is increasing.

At this time, women entrepreneurs here are forced to sell them. Women entrepreneurs have been earning a lot of income by making various rotis including Jhiniya and sugar, which are considered essential dishes during the festival. Women entrepreneurs have been busy with the locals buying home-made bread after the production of various ready-made breads including Jhiniya.

Women from Tansen, Nisdi’s Galdha, Rampur Municipality, Rambha, Mathagadhi, Ribdikot, Bagnaskali among other municipalities are busy making and selling jhiniya. They have been making and selling these breads to celebrate festivals and run their household expenses.

Most of the houses in Tansen Municipality-3, Taksar Tole are now decorated with Jhiniya. Jhiniya Roti, which is more popular among the Newari community, has been kept ready for the festival. Colorful jhiniya rotis are kept in every street and shop of Tansen. Most of the shops in Palpa have started selling Jhiniya bread since a week.

Nirmaya Shrestha, a Jhiniya entrepreneur of Tansen Taksar Tole, is now in the business of Jhiniya Roti. He has been doing the business of Jhiniya commercially for a decade. She makes ziniya in her free time in the morning and evening. She said that she is earning one and a half to two lakh rupees from Jhiniya as Dashain and Tihar are good business.

Narayani Devi Bajracharya of the same place has also been selling and distributing Jhiniya for the past three decades. He said that Jhiniya worth Rs 3.5 to 6 lakh can be sold during Dashain and Tihar alone. Bajracharya said that there is no problem in the market and if we can produce it, it will be good income.

Like Bajracharya, other women of Taksar Tole have also been earning a good income by making jhiniya. In most of the Newari settlements, small cottage industries are operating to make Jhiniya Roti. After giving tika to the brothers during Tihar, the business of Jhiniya is flourishing as it is customary to serve it with Selroti and Fini Roti.

Laxmi Shrestha of Rampur Municipality-5 said that she has been making and selling Jhiniya bread since the Dashain festival. She said that there is no problem in the market as the demand for bread is high. “We are not in a position to meet the demand for bread”, he said. But we can’t send everyone. He said that he does not produce it himself, but also buys other women. Ziniya produced from Palpa is consumed in large quantities in Gulmi, Syangja, Parbat, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu, Kaski and Tanahun among other districts.