Dussehra

Dussehra is a significant Hindu festival celebrated in India, traditionally marked by the consumption of sweets. This year, the festival's festive spirit is threatened by a sharp increase in sugar prices, which have risen by nearly 40% in the past two months. India, the world's largest consumer of sugar, is facing a shortage, leading the government to import one million tonnes for the first time in almost a decade. This sugar crisis is particularly impactful as the sweets sector, worth over $1.1 billion, relies heavily on festive season sales, which account for more than 40% of its annual revenue. The soaring prices disproportionately affect low-income consumers and sugarcane farmers, making the upcoming festive season potentially 'bittersweet'.