Kunal Shrestha, manager of Dulahi Sari, one of the prominent sari shops in Kathmandu, said that sales had soared 50 percent compared to normal times. “We are selling saris worth Rs 80,000 daily against Rs 40,000 at other times,” he added.

The shop recently launched a new range of saris targeting wedding shoppers. Shrestha said that they had unveiled a wide range of sari types including simple printed, silk, net, chiffon, georgette and ifa. “French chiffon and net saris are the fast sellers at our store,” he said. “Along with traditional Banarasi saris, pure soft net and georgette saris are also selling well this season.” Sari prices at his shop range from Rs 700 to Rs 30,000 depending on the fabric

and pattern.

Likewise, Raj Shree Collection reported good sales due to the ongoing wedding season. Hiramoti Maharjan, proprietor of the shop, said that they

were presently selling Rs 25,000

to Rs 30,000 worth of saris daily compared to Rs 15,000 during normal days.

“We have been seeing a steady growth in sales since the second week of April,” he said. The shop offers saris in new designs and colour options costing Rs 2,000 to Rs 16,000. “Red-toned pink

and blue saris featuring contemporary printing are the best sellers during this marriage season,” he said.  

Similarly, Madan Lal Sharma, manager of Jay Ambe Saree Showroom, said that embroidered silk saris were the most sought-after products at the shop. “Young girls prefer to wear pre-pleated readymade saris which are fitted with an elastic and hook making them easy to wear,” he said. Jay Ambe offers a wide range of Banarasi, chiffon, silk embroidery and readymade saris in

various designs.   

Meanwhile, customers have complained that sari prices this year are higher than in the past. “Saris like the ones I bought for Rs 8,000 last year now cost

Rs 9,000,” said Seema Bhattarai from Sinamangal who was checking out the sari stores at Makhan.

Traders attributed the price rise to mounting costs in India from where most of the saris sold in Nepal are imported. “We have to bring all the saris from India where they are relatively expensive,” said Shrestha of Dulahi Sari. According to merchants, most of the saris in the market come from Kolkata, Varanasi, Jaipur, New Delhi and Mumbai.