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Vashi2Panvel.Com: Navi Mumbai: September 22: "Fifty percent earning of the entire year in just a period of four months…” seems unusual, but is true. There are many trades in this satellite city, which make most of their income in a span of just few months. These so-called “Seasonal” trades provide lot of encouragement to various skilled labours along with other regular ventures. Idol makers, Music Bands, Religious ceremony organisers, Decorators etc are a few to name from this long list of seasonal enterprises.

These “Seasonal” businesses have created their unique presence for that particular occasion, so the chance of not making good profit at this time is quite unlikely. The payments, which this small scale industry receives in the peak period, is almost ten times the income in other times of the year. “We usually start getting orders in the month of June for the larger idols but most of the orders for the average size Ganapati idols that are usually placed in the homes, come in the month of July and August, depending when the festival is scheduled,” explicates Shivraj Kande, a Panvel based Ganapati idol maker. “We are traditionally in this profession since childhood and we keep less margin of profit but the increase in the number of orders lift the earnings in this period. During other time of the year we are usually involved with part time business like pottery making and cereal exporting,” he avers.

The Profit graphs of the other businesses, which are related to some cultural events or any particular peak season also touches the heights. “We mostly earn our gross income from August to November as that is the time when the festivals and marriages are going on in the full swing,” elucidates Shyam Shankar, Celebration Decorators, Vashi and Kopar Khairne. “This is the time when the demand rises up to such level that we need to cancel a few orders, the income in this period is too high to be compared with the other seasons, but the fact remains the same if we gain this much in few months then rest of the year there is not much for us,” he adds. He feels that proper planning and savings are required to manage such an enterprise which is functioning at a low scale.

The Ganapati celebrations along with Durga pooja give a push to the musical bands industry as they form a vital element of the revelry. These music groups receive almost 60 percent of the annual income during this time. “The occasions like Ganapati and Durga pooja celebrations gain us huge profits, which are more than double of our regular income during other days and moreover the enjoyment that we get while playing music during festival time is the added fun,” feels K.Raja, member of one of the musical bands.

Other significant profession, which has seasonal importance, is of “Pandits”or religious performers. The month of August to November which is considered to be the season of festivals and important religious occasions, gets them most of the profits. “Our work leaps during these months as every person organises one or other religious function in his residence due to the planetary significance of this period,” explicates Raju Tiwari, Managing committee member of the Ganapati Temple, Panvel.

The time will change, the trends will change but it is quite unlikely that business will not happen for these professions in this season. Though they gain most in a span of few months but the art is to manage the earnings for the whole year.

Smriti Mishra