Broom sweeps the market clean this Diwali — from Rohtak to Rohru, Shimla to Chandigarh
Shimla, Oct 19: This Dhanteras, the humble jhadu has swept aside all traditions — and even the yellow metal. With gold prices skyrocketing to ₹1.30 lakh per 10 grams, people are turning to the broom instead of bangles.
It’s now the jhadu that’s charming Goddess Laxmi and sweeping out poverty from Indian homes.
Forget gold, silver, sweets or diyas — this time, it’s the broom that ruled the market. From Rohtak to Rohru, from Shimla to Chandigarh, Kangra to Chamba — every household seemed obsessed with buying a broom.
The craze began early morning. By noon, most shops were out of stock. “We sold more than 1,200 brooms in a single day,” said Rakesh Kumar, a trader in Rohru. “People didn’t even bargain. They said, ‘Gold is out of reach, but Laxmi will still come with a broom in hand.’ Never seen anything like this in 20 years.”
Even chemist shops and stationery stores were selling brooms this time. “People were walking in asking, ‘Do you have a broom? Doesn’t matter from where,’” laughed a pharmacist in Shimla’s Lower Bazaar. “Looks like Goddess Laxmi prefers a clean floor to a gold chain this year!”
Across North India, the sight was the same. In buses, on scooters, in three-wheelers and cars — everyone carried a broom or two. Some tied with red ribbons, some decorated with marigold flowers.
Housewives, students, shopkeepers — no one wanted to miss buying the lucky jhadu before sunset.
But this craze has nothing to do with AAP’s election symbol. No politics here — just pure tradition. According to Hindu belief, buying a broom on Dhanteras before Laxmi Puja brings prosperity and drives away misfortune.
The broom is said to be dear to Goddess Laxmi, symbolizing cleanliness, discipline and order — the very foundations of wealth.
“There’s a spiritual feeling in buying a broom today,” said Shalini Thakur from Kangra, clutching her fresh phool bahari broom. “It’s not about cleaning the dust — it’s about clearing the negativity that blocks happiness.”
The traditional sohan jhadus made from hill grass and tied with red threads were the most sought after.
“Synthetic ones may shine, but they don’t please the Goddess,” smiled Kamla Devi from Chamba. “The real hill jhadu brings blessings straight from the earth.”
By evening, the markets across Himachal, Punjab and Haryana were swept clean. Traders even hung boards saying “Brooms Sold Out!”
So, as gold stays locked in showcases and prices soar beyond reach, the humble jhadu has become the true symbol of devotion this Diwali — simple, sacred and symbolic of sweeping away poverty for good.
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