Trading of rudraksha beads has gained momentum in the eastern hill district of Sankhuwasabha. The trade usually begins in Sankhuwasabha and neighbouring Bhojpur from the last week of September.
In the lower parts of the district, particularly in the lowland areas and along the banks of the Arun River, rudraksha beads begin to mature around mid-September. Farmers start harvesting them as soon as they ripen, after which the beads enter the market and trading activities begin. While harvesting starts early in the lowland areas, beads in the upper regions generally mature only towards the end of October or the first week of November.
Manoj Katuwal, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Rudraksha Business Federation, said that trading begins as early as September because rudraksha beads mature earlier in the lower areas. He said market activities had increased with the growth in trade.
"Khandbari and Tumlingtar are the main trading centres for rudraksha. Beads produced in various rural areas of Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha are brought to these markets. During the season, transactions worth tens of millions of rupees take place in these markets every week," he said.
According to Katuwal, rudraksha production is lower this year, while the number of Chinese traders visiting the districts has increased compared to previous years.
Chitra Shrestha, a rudraksha trader in Khandbari, said the arrival of Chinese traders benefited farmers.
"Chinese buyers do not look for beads with multiple faces (mukh). They prefer attractive, smooth and flattened beads with a good appearance. Indian buyers, however, purchase rudraksha with multiple faces for religious purposes," he said.
Traders said that although Chinese buyers had stopped visiting the area in previous years, a larger number of them had returned this year to purchase rudraksha beads.Rudraksha trade is generally thriving in the eastern hill districts of Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Dhankuta and Tehrathum. Some farmers and traders have accumulated considerable wealth, including houses and land, through the business.
Traders said the price of rudraksha varies depending on geographical conditions. Beads produced in Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur generally fetch higher prices than those from other districts.
Trading is also conducted by leasing entire rudraksha orchards or individual trees in villages. Traders visit farmers' homes and often enter into agreements to lease orchards and trees a year in advance. In orchards and on trees that produce high-quality beads, both traders and farmers install CCTV cameras and assign people to keep watch around the clock.
Farmers and traders said they maintain security because people could steal the beads during the night. More than Rs. 5 billion worth of rudraksha beads were reportedly exported from Sankhuwasabha last year. According to the Federation, Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur are major production centres, from where large quantities of beads are traded and exported.Local governments issue permits for the collection, purchase and sale of rudraksha under four categories: A, B, C and D. Traders are required to pay the prescribed revenue to conduct business under these permits.
Rudraksha exported to foreign markets
Rudraksha produced in Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur is exported southwards to India including Varanasi, and Myanmar. The beads are mainly used for religious purposes in these markets.
Traders said buyers in India and Myanmar mainly seek beads with multiple faces, while Chinese buyers prefer attractive, well-shaped and smooth beads for decorative purposes.
In local markets, rudraksha beads with three, four, five and six faces generally sell for between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 25,000 per kilogram. The prices of beads with multiple faces vary according to their characteristics.
A single bead with multiple faces can fetch anywhere from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 9 million. As there is no fixed price for such beads, transactions are made through mutual agreement between buyers and sellers.
