With Karva Chauth around the corner, shopkeepers are adopting cost-cutting measures to maximise their profits. The consumers, on the other hand, are also spending cautiously this year.

While the sale of sweets, mehndi and bangles picks up during this time of the year, traders are making sure they make most of the limited resources.

Shyam Sundar of Shiv Misthan Bhandar said, “Since residents are spending cautiously this year, instead of using desi ghee we are using refined oil. The cost of fenian and matthi prepared in pure ghee cost between Rs 220 and 250. While those prepared in refined oil is much cheaper.”

The customer is also avoiding “wasteful” expenditure this time.

“Earlier, a customer would not think twice before buying anything he fancied. Now they only purchase only those products that they want,” said an executive at Gopal’s, Sector 15.

Bangle shop owners and mehndiwalas have a similar story to share.

“We have stocked bangles and jewellery ranging between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500,” said Surinder, a bangle shop owner in Sector 22.

“Applying henna is a custom. Women are willing to spend but this year they are not indulging much. So we have motifs which suit their pocket,” said Rajesh Pandey, a mehndi wala in Sector 22.